Harambee target still unachieved
Thousands of Namibians are still dependent on water from possibly contaminated rivers and wells.
09 June 2020 | Infrastructure
KENYA KAMBOWE
RUNDU
President Hage Geingob's administration has not yet attained the goal of water security outlined by the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) - a national plan aimed at fast-tracking development.
According to HPP goal number 12, which is the same as that of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP4), the aim was to increase access to potable water to 100% of the population by the year 2020.
This has not been achieved, which means that thousands of Namibians are still dependent on water from possibly contaminated sources.
Attributing some of the water shortages in communities to the droughts the country has experienced in recent years, Geingob during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) said the government had made efforts to achieve water security.
“Government intensified drilling of boreholes and upgrading of water infrastructure across the country to enhance access to potable water for rural communities that were faced with water shortages as a result of the drought. Currently 94% of the population has access to potable water,” Geingob said on Thursday.
NamWater statistics indicates that the current potable water supply to towns stands at 98%, and at over 80% in rural areas.
River water
Water problems are especially severe in the two Kavango regions, where people drink contaminated river or well water that has claimed some lives.
Last year, a week after Geingob's State of the Nation Address, Namibian Sun travelled to Nyondo village in the Kavango East Region's Ndonga Linena constituency, where people depend on wells dug near the Kavango River.
The community requested the government to provide them with potable water.
A year later, Namibian Sun revisited Nyondo village and the situation there has not changed at all.
RUNDU
President Hage Geingob's administration has not yet attained the goal of water security outlined by the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) - a national plan aimed at fast-tracking development.
According to HPP goal number 12, which is the same as that of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP4), the aim was to increase access to potable water to 100% of the population by the year 2020.
This has not been achieved, which means that thousands of Namibians are still dependent on water from possibly contaminated sources.
Attributing some of the water shortages in communities to the droughts the country has experienced in recent years, Geingob during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) said the government had made efforts to achieve water security.
“Government intensified drilling of boreholes and upgrading of water infrastructure across the country to enhance access to potable water for rural communities that were faced with water shortages as a result of the drought. Currently 94% of the population has access to potable water,” Geingob said on Thursday.
NamWater statistics indicates that the current potable water supply to towns stands at 98%, and at over 80% in rural areas.
River water
Water problems are especially severe in the two Kavango regions, where people drink contaminated river or well water that has claimed some lives.
Last year, a week after Geingob's State of the Nation Address, Namibian Sun travelled to Nyondo village in the Kavango East Region's Ndonga Linena constituency, where people depend on wells dug near the Kavango River.
The community requested the government to provide them with potable water.
A year later, Namibian Sun revisited Nyondo village and the situation there has not changed at all.
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