The long walk to water

A severe shortage of potable water in the Oshikunde constituency in the Ohangwena Region has forced Lazarus Thomas, 23, to supplying incapacitated members of his community with water from Omundaungilo, and he does so voluntarily.Thomas uses donkeys to transport water from Omhito in Omundaungilo to his community in Oshikunde, which is about 20km, twice a day.Oshikunde is situated between the two constituencies of Omundaungilo and Okongo, which receive water supplies from the massive Ohangwena aquifer. But according to authorities Oshikunde's underground water has proven to be saline and not fit for human consumption. These results came after several boreholes were drilled at different places across the constituency.According to the regional councillor for Oshikunde, Lonia Kaishungu, community members rely on donkeys to transport water from far-off areas, while those without donkeys harvest slightly saline rainwater in ponds in their fields, which last some months after the rainy season.According to Thomas, he wakes up as early as 03:00 every day and gets to collect water from Omhito and he makes another trip in the afternoon. He uses water containers from his homestead and provides them to destitute members of his community to ensure they have potable water.“It is very far and sometimes the donkeys and I are walking slowly because we are tired. I have to get there early because it gets very crowded there with people collecting water. The earlier you get there, the earlier you get water. I do this every day and I have become used to it,” Thomas said.Thomas, who completed his schooling in grade 10, said he gets the motivation from senior citizens who approached him to help transport potable water for them. Now he says it has become a bit of a passion for him.Every day he walks 40km, twice a day, following his donkey to Omundaungilo. “I have to assist them because it is saddening to see people sharing water with livestock while I am able to help them. Some of them give me some money when they have, but some cannot give anything at all. But, I continue to assist them,” he said. StrugglingKaishungu said that community members of her constituency are struggling with potable water especially in homes without donkeys. “If you are a visitor at these homesteads, they will ask you if they can cook for you or if they must give you water to drink or water to bath. There is not enough water for all three activities and they can only assist you with one on minimal basis,” Kaishungu said.She said that six boreholes were installed in her constituency in 2013, but to date they are not functioning because they are not equipped.These form part of the 104 boreholes that will be rehabilitated by the South African government's N$100-million donation to Namibia in 2013.In August this year, the South African High Commission told Namibian Sun that 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.The deputy head of the South African High Commission, Eli Bitzer, informed Namibian Sun that the company was busy with the preparation of the sites, training locals and other tasks before they kick off the operation, after a memorandum of understanding between South Africa and Namibia was concluded and signed on 15 June 2015.The agriculture ministry spokesperson, Margaret Kalo, said their ministry, in conjunction with the prime minister's office, drilled a total of 104 boreholes: 25 in Zambezi, 14 in Kavango East, 17 in Kavango West, 16 in Ohangwena, 21 in Kunene and 11 in Omaheke because the condition of the funding agreement was for the installation of boreholes only, and not for the drilling of boreholes.“Work has commenced at two borehole sites close to Rundu, namely at Kahururu, where civil works and concrete slabs for the tank stands and a trough for animals is already completed; and at Ncamahoro, where the construction of concrete slabs for the tank stands and the trough for animals is under way. Now that a start has been made, the whole programme will gain momentum and be able to accelerate meaningfully,” said Bitzer at the time.Kaishungu said that only after these boreholes are equipped and start functioning will her constituency have some relief from the current devastating water crises.“We have a water tank distribution programme in the region, but it covers a huge area. Water is being shared by community members and schools and clinics. This means that for weeks there is no water that will be distributed to collection points or constituencies. A feasibility study was conducted to have pipeline connection at Ohandiba to bring water to Eenhana from Ondobe.”The councillor for Omundaungilo Constituency, Festus Ikanda, called for the establishment of a Constituency Development Fund that would enable regional councillors to have their own budgets to fund projects. ILENI NANDJATO

The long walk to water

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-05

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The long walk to water

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-05

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