Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Agriculture, Inge Zaamwani, has highlighted that, while access to water has improved in Namibia, sanitation remains a serious concern, with open defecation standing at 39.4 per cent last year.
“Sanitation remains a serious concern. Last financial year, the Ministry reported access to basic sanitation at 36.2 per cent and open defecation at 39.4 per cent. This demands greater urgency. For women and girls, older persons and persons with disabilities, inadequate sanitation can compromise safety as well as health and dignity,” Zaamwani said.
She made these remarks at the Third Namibia Regional Water Symposium in Swakopmund, held under the theme “Ensuring Water Security Through Innovation, Collaboration, Climate Resilience and Responsible Water Stewardship”.
Videos: Ministry of Agriculture.
Zaamwani noted that more needs to be done to address the country’s sanitation challenges. However, she said Namibia had made progress in expanding access to drinking water.
“Last financial year, the Ministry drilled 94 boreholes, rehabilitated 51 boreholes and 137 water supply points, and constructed 55 short pipelines. These interventions help bring services closer to communities and protect rural livelihoods,” the minister continued.
She also highlighted the Ohangwena II Wellfield, the Rundu Treatment Plant extension and the Oshakati Purification Plant upgrade as investments that are strengthening water supply and expanding treatment capacity.
However, she cautioned that infrastructure development and improved access figures alone do not necessarily translate into reliable water and sanitation services.
“Their value will ultimately be measured through dependable services reaching the people they are intended to serve. Yet access figures alone do not tell us whether water is available every day, whether it is affordable, or whether its quality is consistently protected. A household counted as having access can still experience interruptions, long queues or a failing pump. Our responsibility extends to the quality and reliability of that service,” Zaamwani added.
