Hands off our river, Kavango leaders tell NamWater

Leaders and residents from Kavango East have rejected NamWater’s proposed Kavango Link Project, accusing the utility of reviving plans to divert water from the Kavango River to central Namibia without adequately addressing concerns raised in previous consultations.

The criticism emerged during a public consultation meeting on Friday on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the project. Several speakers questioned the project’s scientific basis and consultation process, arguing that the water needs of the Kavango regions should be prioritised before any transfer to other parts of the country.

Rundu Rural constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu said communities in Kavango East and Kavango West remain firmly opposed to the proposal.

“The residents of Kavango East and Kavango West are not in support of that water link,” Mbangu said.

He accused NamWater and its consultants of failing to adequately consult regional leaders and traditional authorities before advancing the project.

Mbangu also challenged the scientific basis of the proposal, saying no comprehensive audit had been presented to determine how much water is available in the Kavango River.

“I don't think your report provides an audit of how much water we have in this river. All that you're doing is just guesswork,” he said.

Mbangu maintained that recommendations in the study could not be considered reliable without clear data on the river’s capacity.

“You cannot manage what you cannot measure,” he said.

He also urged companies in central Namibia that require large volumes of water to relocate their factories to the Kavango region instead of redirecting water away from the river.

Former APP parliamentarian Maria Kamutali echoed similar concerns, questioning why NamWater had returned with what she said was a proposal previously rejected by residents.

“Residents refused that proposal. How come you are here again with the same proposal?” Kamutali asked.

She also questioned whether the consultation process was genuinely intended to gather public input.

“Are you here to consult us, or are you here to inform us about what you have already decided?” she asked.

Kamutali further raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the Kavango River, saying she had observed noticeable changes in water levels over the years.

“Before independence, people could not cross the Kavango River on foot. Today, around September, some people can run across certain sections of the river,” she said.

NamWater, however, defended the project, saying it is intended to benefit the entire country and not just the capital.

NamWater head of business unit in the northeast regions, George Diergaadt, said the utility’s goal is to secure long-term water supplies for Namibia’s administrative and economic centre, warning that a water crisis in Windhoek would have national consequences.

“If Windhoek sits without water, eventually we will also struggle because of that,” Diergaadt said.

He noted that Windhoek hosts central government institutions, universities and key services, meaning water security in the capital is critical to national development.

Diergaadt stressed that the project should not be seen as benefiting Windhoek alone.

“We are working for the betterment of the whole country,” he said.

“We are not pumping water to Angola, but to fellow Namibians,” he added.

Diergaadt said stakeholder engagement would continue, with traditional authorities, regional councils and local communities expected to contribute to the project’s development.

“That is a collective decision that needs to be made through consultation,” he said.