Kunene’s 15 years of drought

A 15-year drought in the Kunene Region has forced dogs, donkeys, goats, pigs and people residing near the Opuwo landfill to scavenge for food that has been disposed of.

The landfill is a filthy eyesore to visitors, but to some residents, it is the source of their daily meals.

When Namibian Sun visited the landfill on 15 January - the day the academic year commenced for public schools - a group of children of school-going age ran towards the car hoping it was someone who had arrived to dispose of waste.

The young boys, aged between eight and 12, said they only attend afternoon classes. From the waste, they get spoiled food or material for recycling.

Dogs, goats, pigs and donkeys were observed scavenging from what they could get from the burnt waste.

Asked where they live, the boys pointed to houses on a hill not far from the landfill. They cracked jokes for a minute before running off again.

The Namibian government declared national emergencies in 1992/1993, 1995/1996, 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2015/2016 and 2018/2019 due to extreme drought events, according to a 2022 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies report.

Council intervention

The landfill issue has been reported on for years, but the cash-strapped town has failed to address the matter.

When contacted for comment, Opuwo CEO Matjandjara Tjihuura-Katurota explained how council plans to address the issue.

With over N$2 million needed to relocate it to another location, Tjihuura-Katurota said council is looking at an alternative route of turning the existing landfill into a recycling centre.

“Concerning the relocation of the dumping site, council has actively engaged with central government as per our approved budget 2023/2024,” she said.

“The cost of relocating of the dumping site is more than N$ 2 million, and the environmental impact assessment would cost the council no less N$200 000.

“With limited financial resources, one has to prioritise the needs. Council is busy drilling boreholes due to a water shortage,” she said.

Zero waste

“Meanwhile, the council is considering another cost-effective model of managing waste, which is a ‘zero waste’ approach. No burning and dumping. This concept will assist the council to cut operational costs and there will be no need to relocate the dumping site,” Tjihuura-Katurota said.

“The ‘zero waste’ initiative will turn the dumping site into recycling centre and a pivotal project for job creation and environmental improvement. Notwithstanding, immediate priorities for the council, given financial constraints, are focused on addressing water shortages."

Regarding the appointment of an environmental practitioner for the town, Tjihuura-Katurota said interviews were conducted in December and the confirmation of the successful candidate is scheduled to take place during a management committee meeting of 15 February.

Persistent drought

According to the CEO, the persistent drought that has ravaged the region for the past 15 years has led to significant challenges, including rural-urban migration and increased reliance on the dumping site for sustenance.

“Scavenging has decreased with current monitoring efforts, and the council has implemented the ‘We Care’ project to provide food to the needy,” she said.

“Additionally, Kunene Spar, in collaboration with social workers, operates a soup kitchen to offer meals weekly. Despite these initiatives, further assistance is essential to address the persistent issue of hunger in our community.

“Therefore, we invite more stakeholders to come on board. We appreciate your ongoing support and understanding as we work towards sustainable solutions for the well-being of our community.”

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