Only 50% of Mpungu villages have potable water
Residents are forced to travel long distances to and from the nearest water source just to survive.
Kenya Kambowe
Mpungu
Only 50% of villages in Kavango West's Mpungu constituency have access to clean drinking water, says councillor Kandjimi Shiudifonya.
In an interview with Ewi lyaNooli, Shiudifonya said the water woes in his constituency have continued unabated.
He revealed that some residents have to travel over 15 kilometres to and from the nearest water source to survive, something he described as disheartening.
“The situation has not changed. My constituency - being the largest in the region - continues to face water issues,” he explained.
His sentiments come just months after Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku, during her state of the region address, called upon stakeholders to address the issue.
Ausiku at the time revealed that only 77% of residents in the region have access to safe drinking water while the rest have to travel long distances to source water for survival.
Meanwhile, those travelling long distances are forced to spend hundreds of dollars to pay those in the communities who use either their vehicles or donkey carts to collect water for others.
Nomadic lifestyle
With regards to some of the contributing factors to the water woes, Shiudifonya said the underfunding of the rural water supply directorate over the years has made it difficult for communities to get boreholes.
However, he also revealed that some of the challenges are self-inflicted.
He explained that some communities move from one place to another in search of fertile land to grow crops.
“A borehole can be drilled and a school is established there. Once the community sees that the land is becoming less fertile for their crops, they then move to another place and abandon the water source and start to complain about the lack of water. This is the unfortunate part of it,” the councillor said.
Shiudifonya shared that a number of boreholes have been drilled, however, potable water remains a challenge.
He pleaded with stakeholders - specifically in the private sector - to assist in addressing the issue.
[email protected]
Mpungu
Only 50% of villages in Kavango West's Mpungu constituency have access to clean drinking water, says councillor Kandjimi Shiudifonya.
In an interview with Ewi lyaNooli, Shiudifonya said the water woes in his constituency have continued unabated.
He revealed that some residents have to travel over 15 kilometres to and from the nearest water source to survive, something he described as disheartening.
“The situation has not changed. My constituency - being the largest in the region - continues to face water issues,” he explained.
His sentiments come just months after Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku, during her state of the region address, called upon stakeholders to address the issue.
Ausiku at the time revealed that only 77% of residents in the region have access to safe drinking water while the rest have to travel long distances to source water for survival.
Meanwhile, those travelling long distances are forced to spend hundreds of dollars to pay those in the communities who use either their vehicles or donkey carts to collect water for others.
Nomadic lifestyle
With regards to some of the contributing factors to the water woes, Shiudifonya said the underfunding of the rural water supply directorate over the years has made it difficult for communities to get boreholes.
However, he also revealed that some of the challenges are self-inflicted.
He explained that some communities move from one place to another in search of fertile land to grow crops.
“A borehole can be drilled and a school is established there. Once the community sees that the land is becoming less fertile for their crops, they then move to another place and abandon the water source and start to complain about the lack of water. This is the unfortunate part of it,” the councillor said.
Shiudifonya shared that a number of boreholes have been drilled, however, potable water remains a challenge.
He pleaded with stakeholders - specifically in the private sector - to assist in addressing the issue.
[email protected]
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