Niël Terblanché
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has inaugurated an important water project, delivering a multi-faceted borehole system to the Ohamutwe-Tautende village in the Epembe Constituency of the Ohangwena Region.
This long-awaited intervention, comprising three pumps and ten tanks, as well as several water points, marks a turning point for the residents who have been without clean water since Namibia’s independence.
At the handover, the Kuugongolwa-Amadhila said that the establishment of the new facilities is in line with the government’s pursuit of ensuring that all citizens have access to clean water
She urged community members to take care of the infrastructure and use water sparingly.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform spearheaded the project with a substantial investment of N$2.7 million, indicating the government’s dedication to addressing the fundamental needs of its citizens.
The villagers, who previously relied on wells for both personal use and livestock, can now access safe drinking water thanks to the newly installed borehole system.
Efforts to provide water in the past were met with challenges as boreholes yielded saline water and the underground water quality was deemed too poor for shallow boreholes.
However, with the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office in the 2023-2024 financial year, the project to drill a deeper borehole, which began in 2020, saw completion.
Expanding on this essential service, the Ministry of Agriculture has initiated the drilling of four additional deep boreholes in the Epembe constituency.
These new boreholes at Oshipya, Onamundindi, Eshii, and Onaishiyo villages are set to further alleviate the water scarcity issues faced by the residents.
