Staff Reporter
THE government provided N$1,7 million to local authorities in Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Otavi to address sewage challenges in these towns.
This was revealed by President Hage Geingob during his ninth State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he made it clear that this is just one of several efforts made by the government to improve sanitation facilities in the country.
Other related achievements, Geingob said, include the abolishment of 366 bucket toilets and the construction of 250 flush toilets in Kalkfeld, in the Otjozondjupa Region, and Fransfontein, in the Kunene Region. The president also revealed that 13 ablution facilities were constructed through the Community Led Total Sanitation programme in the Kunene Region, while 175 new sanitation facilities were constructed in the Zambezi, Hardap, Omusati, Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions.
Geingob also highlighted that considerable efforts were made to improve access to safe drinking water for human consumption and agricultural use as well. In this regard, he revealed that a number of boreholes and pipelines have been repaired and installed in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Kavango East and //Kharas regions.
To further ensure water sufficiency, Geingob said, the government invested N$5 billion in the construction of the Neckertal Dam in the //Kharas Region. Besides this, he added, a 6-kilometre (km) water canal portion between Ogongo and Oshakati was also refurbished in September 2022.
“Other significant milestones in this sector include the commencement of construction on the Ogongo Canal End Section and the Olushandja-Ogongo Canal. These projects, together with the development of the Ohangwena Aquifer’s first phase, will improve water supply to the region,” the president said.
Geingob pointed out that more efforts to improve access to water are underway. This includes the current upgrading of the Calueque to Oshakati Canal and the commencement of major irrigation projects in the //Kharas Region.
