By: Annakleta Haikera

The ministry of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni on Monday officially inaugurated a water project at the Thikanduko village in the Kavango East region.

Uutoni said the development came as a result of many human-wildlife conflicts, particularly encounters with crocodiles that have led to the loss of human life in the area.

In April this year, the ministry of agriculture, water and land reform, in consultation with the regional leadership of both Kavango East and Kavango West regions, identified numerous villages that are prone to crocodile attacks.

One of those villages was Thikanduko. The water plant is going to supply water to the surrounding community in the radius of two kilometres of the Thikanduko village.

Utoni urged the agriculture and water ministry to supply water to all rural areas with the plan that they have of drilling boreholes in rural areas.

“People are suffering in terms of rural water supply. The ministry of agriculture should coordinate with the ministry of urban and rural development in terms of sanitation. We should also strengthen the working relationship,” the minister said.

He also appealed to those stealing water equipment supply to rural areas to stop it.

“If they are found they should be dealt with accordingly. People in rural areas must take care of what the government is giving them. People should maintain the water plant.”

At the same event, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, executive director of the ministry of agriculture, water and land reform,  said they are aware that statistically Kavango East, Kavango West and Otjozondjupa have the lowest water points in the country.

“In regards to Kavango East and Kavango West, we are drilling, rehabilitating and installing boreholes in various villages. We are also embarking on constructing and rehabilitating some earth dams as well as modernising traditional wells,” Nghituwamata revealed.

In August, the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) piloted a mini desalination plant in the Erongo region valued at N$1 million.

According to Nghituwamata, the project includes river water abstraction. She said a memorandum of agreement has been signed by her ministry and the EIF.

Mukwe constituency councillor Damian Maghambayi told The Villager the water project was constructed under the VAT refunds and cost N$600,000. He said work on the project lasted two months and created temporary employment for 10 people.

“It is my conviction that we can do more of these projects if resources are at our disposal. Kavango East regional council is currently operating in the red as the biggest chunk of the budget for 2022/23 was cut by the mother ministry and this puts the council in a predicament to execute its dutie,” Maghambayi  said.

Robert Moyo, a teacher at the Thikanduko primary school where Elen Mashora, a 15-year-old that was killed by a crocodile attended, said the water project will improve the lives of the learners.

“No learner will be attacked again by the water species. More than 20 households have water and it is a privilege for everyone in the village because this is the first-ever water project at the Thikanduko village,” Moyo said.

He also encouraged parents to not send their children to fetch water at the river alone.

Meanwhile, the ministry of agriculture, water and land reform in February this year upgraded the Rundu water treatment plant through the Namibia Water Sector Support Programme to ensure that ample capacity is developed to construct pipelines from Rundu to Katwitwi,  as well as from Mururani to Mukwe. This started with the drilling of boreholes for the Rundu Shambyu pipeline as well as the Bunya–Ntara pipeline as the first phase of the project.