Millions flushed in toilet stink

Government has spent millions of dollars to construct toilets that are now standing unused in rural households.

During 2011/12 government spent N$181.5 million on 10 000 Ecosan toilets in five northern regions, which have now ended up decorating communities.

Ecosan is a dry toilet system that does not mix urine with other human waste. The system stores human waste and users can use it as fertiliser to increase crop yields.

“When these toilets were completed and handed over to us, the facilities did not solve our rural sanitation problems, as we could not use them due to technical difficulties. No training or information sessions were done. Until now they are just standing there,” said one of the beneficiaries, Josephina Shikukumwa.

“We are told this system stores human waste in a sack and we are required to remove the sack once it gets full. Some of the people who benefited have already started demolishing them and removed the building materials.”

The headman for Ekolanaambo village under the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority in Oshana, Paulus Mutikisha, said that the construction of toilets is just a waste of money.

“In 2012 I was a beneficiary of the Ecosan programme. We have never used it until today because we were never trained on how to use them; we are also told that some facilities are not installed for them to function properly. Money has been wasted and the structures are all over the village falling apart. For the other systems being used, people are complaining that they are unsuitable.”

Central government now stands accused of selecting a toilet system for communities without their or regional government input, leading to millions being either wasted or looted since 2012.

Fibre cement cabin toilets will now be constructed to replace the 2011/12 Ecosan toilets and others constructed from 2013 to 2018.

During his State of the Region Address (Sora) this week, Oshana governor Elia Irimari announced that 140 toilets will be constructed in the region during the current financial year to the tune of N$2.1 million, in order to improve sanitation.

Invitations to tender have been advertised in all 11 constituencies.

Twenty-four toilets are earmarked for Okaku, 19 for Okatana, four for Okatyali, six for Ompundja, 18 for Ondangwa Rural, 17 for Ondangwa Urban, 17 for Ongwediva, 10 for Oshakati East, five for Oshakati West, 15 for Uukwiyuushona and five for Uuvudhiya.

The fibre cement cabin VIP latrines operate just like the traditional toilets in villages.



They have ventilation pipes with a fly screen and latrine hand-washing facility.

They have ventilation pipes with a fly screen and a latrine hand-washing facility.

Under the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) government plans to construct 50 000 rural toilets to eliminate the bucket system by the end of this year.

Each region is required to construct cheap toilets and VIP latrines at no more than N$10 000 per toilet.

This started with the installation of ventilation improved toilets, also known as VIP latrines.

During the 2017/18 financial year the Oshana regional council received N$2.3 million to construct 230 toilets.

Sources claimed this week that regional councils are only involved in the process to implement, monitor and evaluate, while having no say in what toilet system is used.

Tenders are issued and awarded and units installed without any community outreach.

Due to a lack of education on maintenance, and in the case of flushing toilets, no water to flush them with, most of the toilets are failing.

In 2013, the directorate of sanitation was transferred to the agriculture ministry and a national sanitation project for both rural and urban areas was launched. Around N$100 million was spent for rural toilets, while N$300 million was used for urban ones.

The project resumed with the construction of the Amalooloo toilet system and in many communities, some whom had also benefited from the Ecosan toilets.

An official indicated that due to poor consultation with regional authorities the Amalooloo system did not materialise because these toilets cannot function in areas with a high water table.

Amalooloo toilets have tanks underground that store the waste.

Due to the associated ground movement and water pressure, the tank compresses.

The tank is a panel system that relies on the integrity of the sealant to hold the panels together and keep the joints watertight.

In 2017, the government started constructing VIP latrines, however, these were found not to be a solution in areas prone to flooding and with high water tables.

In Oshana, 230 toilets were constructed - 45 at Okaku, 35 at Okatana, 11 at Ompundja, 24 at Ondangwa Rural, nine at Ondangwa Urban, 32 at Ongwediva, 18 at Oshakati East, nine at Oshakati West, 29 at Uukwiyuushona and 10 at Uuvudhiya.

It was also reported that inferior materials were used and that the toilets would not last for more than three years, while government expected to construct toilets that people could use for over 10 years.

The chairperson for Oshana regional council, Hanu Kapenda, said that the sanitation situation in the region is slowly improving as many houses are getting toilets. He, however, added that the system is not 100% perfect.

“The Ecosan toilet failed completely, but the Amalooloo and the Ventilation Improved toilets were better. The only challenge with the Amalooloo is that they are not manufactured locally, so they are very expensive as is their transport. The Ventilation Improved Pit (VIP) are locally made, but the constructor failed because he did sub-standard work,” Kapenda said.

“We are now looking at the Fibre Cement Cabin which are also locally produced to see if they can work out better for us. Many people are at least getting toilets at their houses.”

According to sanitation expert Eline van der Linden, no toilet system will work without educating communities on daily cleaning.

She said the choice of technology/infrastructure is important, but relationship management is critical to the success of any toilet system.

“A long-term solid periodic maintenance plan should also be in place from the onset,” Van der Linden said.

She said despite millions of dollars being used for sanitation programmes, the sanitation sector in Namibia is not in a good space.

More than one million Namibians still have no other option than to resort to open defecation, with all the associated health problems and costs, including cases of hepatitis E. Open defecation is also associated with higher incidences of assault when women and girls go into the veld,” Van der Linde said.

“Communities can only change their perceptions through government-intensive interaction with the beneficiary communities and by having a solid long-term maintenance plan in place. Providing sanitation is not a one-off action but rather a long-term engagement with communities.”

The Popular Democratic Movement coordinator for Ohangwena Region, Hidipo Hamata, said that each year he hears about toilets being constructed in the region but the sanitation situation does not improve.

“We still have many people in many communities without access to toilet facilities. There are also no toilets constructed at public places to improve sanitation. People still have to use bushes when nature calls.”

ILENI NANDJATO