Staff Reporter
PARTS of the Omuthiya town in the Oshikoto Region are flooded following heavy rainfall from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning.
Residents put the blame squarely at the door of the town council, accusing it of “poor planning”.
“They approved building plans for business complexes that are now flooded,” said Moses Amukoto, a local community and political activist.
NOTICE: FNB’s message to customers this morning. 
STUCK: When this vehicle got stuck in the muddy water, three earthmovers were brought to the scene to help but they too got stuck one after the other. A town council tractor eventually solved the problem. Photos: Contributed 
STUCK: When this vehicle got stuck in the muddy water, three earthmovers were brought to the scene to help but they too got stuck one after the other. A town council tractor eventually solved the problem. Photos: Contributed
The mayor of the town, John Ndeutepo, is of a different view.
He says that Omuthiya is located in a low-lying area where the rainwater drains naturally in a north-south direction.
He says that natural drainage is now blocked by people who erected structures in the waterways.
“Only the structures built in natural waterways were affected and the owners of those buildings are to blame,” he said.
The flooding affected several business complexes, paralyzing normal service delivery and transforming streets into rivulets that are impassable by vehicle.
Ndeutepo says there is nothing the council can do now, but there are long term plans, including rainwater harvesting.
“The council has already allocated a budget for a feasibility study,” said Ndeutepo.
More rain is still expected countrywide over the next few days.
