Maria David
THE Oshikoto Regional Council (ORC), through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform (MAWLR), has invested significant funds to address water scarcity in Oshikoto over the past 18 months.
Regional Council spokesperson Petrus Nehale said they have made efforts to relieve the challenges of potable water supply in the region.
According to Nehale, the Ministry of Agriculture, as the custodian of water provision in the country, has devised both short- and long-term interventions to address the challenge of access to potable water in some parts of the region, where frequent pipe bursts, low or no water pressure, and underground water unfit for both animal and human consumption persist.
“Such interventions include the rehabilitation of the Ondangwa-Omutsegwonime bulk water supply pipeline by NamWater, extension of the Omutsegwonime-King Kauluma water pipeline, drilling of boreholes, installation of mini-desalination plants at boreholes with saline water, and construction of short-water pipelines in the region,” he said.
He added that they have also embarked on the installation of water booster pumps for pipelines with low or no water pressure, continuous connection of private off-takes, excavation of earth dams, and delivery of water to communities and institutions in need of potable water.
Further, Nehale indicated that interventions, such as the rehabilitation of the Ondangwa-Omutsegwonime bulk water supply scheme by NamWater, are progressing well.
He explained that the Ondangwa-Omutsegwonime pipeline rehabilitation project is currently underway, with Phase 1 focusing on the replacement of a critical 17 km stretch between Ondangwa and Oshali.
The ground-breaking ceremony for this phase took place on 28 June 2024, with completion expected within 12 months.
Moreover, Nehale said that NamWater has fully funded the project with an investment of N$91 million. This project is a crucial step toward securing a sustainable water supply for the Oshikoto region and addresses issues of ageing infrastructure that result in frequent interruptions of water supply.
“The feasibility study to extend the Omutsegwonime-King Kauluma water pipeline is currently underway and will be followed by the procurement process once the study is completed,” he added.
Nehale also said that the government drilled 25 standard boreholes in the Nehale Lya Mpingana, Guinas, and Okankolo Constituencies, at a cost of N$11.8 million.
Of these, 19 standard boreholes were drilled in the Nehale Lya Mpingana Constituency at villages such as Onxaiva, Elunda Lyo Ndjamba, Nandelifa, Oshana Shaanani, Okatope Erki, Omatope, Oshana Shuuyandje, Ontandashiye West, Okayoka, Okanuwa, Ondjiina Ya Mundanda, Oshongwe East, Onambandje West, Emanya East, Emanya, Okamanyona, Onalusheshete, Ombakana, and Oshataha. Meanwhile, two standard boreholes were drilled in Guinas Constituency at Tsintsabis Community and Wife Kalangula, while another four boreholes were drilled in Okankolo Constituency at Oshatilwe School and in the villages of Ongaungau, Onampombo, and Ohaimbanda.
During the same period, nine deep boreholes were drilled in Eengodi Constituency at Oshikondailwa, Ohailombo, Akazulu, Onelago, Otatashe, Elambo School, and Evale. Two additional deep boreholes were drilled at Oluundje and Onandjamba villages in Okankolo Constituency, at a total cost of N$7.2 million.
