Relief for Ohangwena
Onhangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa has opted to equip eight boreholes for rural communities instead of waiting for Rand Water to conclude their work.
The governor of the Ohangwena Region, Usko Nghaamwa, has equipped eight boreholes in his region to supply water to communities that had to travel long distances for potable water. The boreholes were drilled with the drought relief donation from South Africa but were not equipped to be used.
The boreholes were equipped to the tune of N$714 000 which was donated to Nghaamwa's fund by the Sea Flower Fishing Company. The fund works towards capacity development in the region.
Nghaamwa, who handed the boreholes over to the community and the directorate of water at Ombaba in the Oshikunde constituency last week told Namibian Sun that the people in his region were suffering from a lack of potable water and it was time to act.
There are 16 installed but non-functioning boreholes in the region. Eight and four in the Okongo and Oshikunde constituencies each, are now functional.
“Water is life and I cannot wait for a South African company that is taking ages to come and install boreholes while my people are in need of water and there are funds available. I have to use the funds to rescue my people,” Nghaamwa said.
Part of the agreement with South Africa was that a firm from that country would equip the boreholes for use.
The eight boreholes equipped by the governor are among 104 boreholes that the agriculture ministry, in conjunction with the prime minister's office, drilled in 2013. There are 25 in Zambezi, 14 in Kavango East, 17 in Kavango West, 16 in Ohangwena, 21 in Kunene and 11 in Omaheke.
These boreholes form part of the South African government's N$100-million donation to Namibia in 2013. According to the South African High Commission, Rand Water, the largest water utility in South Africa and supplier of water to Gauteng, has been mandated for the N$50 million rehabilitation of these boreholes.
Nghaamwa said that some community members in his region struggle with potable water and many are forced to use donkeys to transport water over long distances. He said that community members who had these boreholes in their areas have complained to his office since 2014 for him to assist them equip the boreholes.
“My office received a N$357 000 donation in both 2016 and 2017 from Sea Flower Fishing Company aimed at assisting the region with development. I had to choose whether I would spend the money on the education sector or water, and I realised that water is the priority in our region,” he said.
He said that Aqua Drilling Company was contracted to do the work and equipped the eight boreholes, which are solar-powered, in Okongo and Ombaba, Okwatiwalunga, Elundalondjamba and Okanhi villages in the Oshikunde constituency.
Ombaba village headman Shituleipo Nghituwasha urged his villagers to take care of the facilities so that they will not go back to the hard life of struggling with water.
“Firstly, I would like to thank those who assisted us during our many years of hardship. Let me also thank the governor's office for considering our community. Fellow community members let us take care of this equipment. This is a blessing for us and our children can now concentrate on their school work after school,” Nghituwasha said.
ILENI NANDJATO
The boreholes were equipped to the tune of N$714 000 which was donated to Nghaamwa's fund by the Sea Flower Fishing Company. The fund works towards capacity development in the region.
Nghaamwa, who handed the boreholes over to the community and the directorate of water at Ombaba in the Oshikunde constituency last week told Namibian Sun that the people in his region were suffering from a lack of potable water and it was time to act.
There are 16 installed but non-functioning boreholes in the region. Eight and four in the Okongo and Oshikunde constituencies each, are now functional.
“Water is life and I cannot wait for a South African company that is taking ages to come and install boreholes while my people are in need of water and there are funds available. I have to use the funds to rescue my people,” Nghaamwa said.
Part of the agreement with South Africa was that a firm from that country would equip the boreholes for use.
The eight boreholes equipped by the governor are among 104 boreholes that the agriculture ministry, in conjunction with the prime minister's office, drilled in 2013. There are 25 in Zambezi, 14 in Kavango East, 17 in Kavango West, 16 in Ohangwena, 21 in Kunene and 11 in Omaheke.
These boreholes form part of the South African government's N$100-million donation to Namibia in 2013. According to the South African High Commission, Rand Water, the largest water utility in South Africa and supplier of water to Gauteng, has been mandated for the N$50 million rehabilitation of these boreholes.
Nghaamwa said that some community members in his region struggle with potable water and many are forced to use donkeys to transport water over long distances. He said that community members who had these boreholes in their areas have complained to his office since 2014 for him to assist them equip the boreholes.
“My office received a N$357 000 donation in both 2016 and 2017 from Sea Flower Fishing Company aimed at assisting the region with development. I had to choose whether I would spend the money on the education sector or water, and I realised that water is the priority in our region,” he said.
He said that Aqua Drilling Company was contracted to do the work and equipped the eight boreholes, which are solar-powered, in Okongo and Ombaba, Okwatiwalunga, Elundalondjamba and Okanhi villages in the Oshikunde constituency.
Ombaba village headman Shituleipo Nghituwasha urged his villagers to take care of the facilities so that they will not go back to the hard life of struggling with water.
“Firstly, I would like to thank those who assisted us during our many years of hardship. Let me also thank the governor's office for considering our community. Fellow community members let us take care of this equipment. This is a blessing for us and our children can now concentrate on their school work after school,” Nghituwasha said.
ILENI NANDJATO
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