Mpungu's woes continue

KENYA KAMBOWEMPUNGU Only 50% villages in Kavango West's Mpungu constituency have access to clean drinking water.This was admitted by Mpungu constituency councillor Kandjimi Shiudifonya in a recent interview.President Hage Geingob said in his State of the Nation Address that about 94% of the Namibian population has access to clean water.This fell short of the objectives of the Harambee Prosperity Plan, which had aimed for 100% coverage by the year 2020.In most parts of the two Kavango regions, some parts of the four O-regions and in the Kunene Region, water scarcity remains a reality.Sad realityAt a borehole at Katope Komugoro village, about 10 kilometres west of Mpungu settlement, people say the borehole supplies people living within a radius of seven kilometres. People living as far as Musimba village have to travel to Katope to fetch water for their households.During the rainy season, they can use rainwater from earthen dams for washing clothes and bathing. But with the dams having dried up, they now solely rely on the borehole.Those who do not have their own transport have to pay someone with a donkey cart up to N$200 per trip to fetch water for them.One trip supplies them with enough water for two or three days.There is also a monthly payment of N$70 for those with livestock, and N$50 for those without livestock, to buy electricity for the water pump.Financial constraintsWhen contacted for comment, Shiudifonya said the planned drilling of a borehole at Musimba village last month could not happen because of a lack of funds.Instead, the community will be provided with water tanks until a borehole can be drilled.“We planned to drill it during this Covid-19 period; unfortunately, we did not have money but we told them that in the meantime we would provide them with water with the truck,” the councillor said.“The water situation in my constituency is very bad. Only 50% of villages have water and others don't. It is not only Musimba village that is affected but areas like Sondorokeni, Zauma and Nculi are without potable water too. The people have to travel more than 10 kilometres to a borehole,” he said.Shiudifonya said last year they managed to drill four boreholes in the constituency, but it did not solve their water problem.

Mpungu's woes continue

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-10

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Mpungu's woes continue

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-10

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