Toilet tenders stink

Since 2012 the government has been jumping from one toilet system to another, spending millions of dollars, but failing to find a suitable system for rural areas.

Tenders are issued and awarded and units installed without any community outreach. Due to lack of education on maintenance and, in the case of flush toilets, simply a lack of water to flush them with, all the systems have failed. Regional and traditional leaders are not being consulted in the selection in order to find the optimum solution.

In just five northern regions, N$181.5 million was spent in 2011/12 on Ecosan (Ecological Sanitation) toilets and in 2013/14, N$157.5 million was spent on Amalooloo toilets and the cheaper Ventilation Improved toilets under the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP).

Officials responsible for the project at the regional councils and the line ministry did not disclose information upon Namibian Sun's enquiries.

A source at a regional council said that all the toilet systems were selected by the national government without community or regional government input. Regional councils were only involved in the process to implement, monitor and evaluate.

Another source informed Namibian Sun that the government had spent N$181.5 million on 10 000 Ecosan toilets in five northern regions during 2011/12.

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.

It is further alleged that each region received N$20 million for the construction of these toilets. Tenders were awarded to local small and medium enterprises who charged the government over N$20 000 per toilet.



After the completion of these toilets, they remain unused to date.

“When the Ecosan project was completed and handed over to the beneficiaries, we were asked to do a survey on how the beneficiaries were using their toilets. We found out that these toilet facilities did not solve rural sanitation problems as the beneficiaries were not using them due to technical difficulties. We also realised that no testing or information sessions were done,” the source said. Some beneficiaries started demolishing them and removing the building materials. This system stores human waste in a sack. Users are required to remove the sack once it gets full.

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

The project resumed construction of the Amalooloo toilets without consulting regional councillors and communities on the sanitation programme and on the choice of appropriate systems that best suited the beneficiaries.

The Amalooloo toilets were said to be ecologically safe pit latrines.

Since the Ecosan system failed, they ended up constructing Amalooloo at houses where they already built Ecosan toilets.

“We felt that it was of no use for people to have toilets they will never use. We gave Amalooloo toilets to the same people who benefited from the Ecosan system,” said the official.

The official added that due to poor consultation with regional authorities the Amalooloo system also could not materialise because the toilet cannot function in areas with a high water table.

“Amalooloo toilets have a tank underground that holds the waste. Due to associated ground movement and water pressure, the tank will compress. The tank is a panel system that relies on the integrity of the sealant to hold the panels together and to keep the joints watertight.”

The Harambee Prosperity Plan indicated the construction of 50 000 rural toilets to eliminate the bucket system by end 2017. Every region is required to construct cheap toilets, VIP latrines at no more than N$10 000 per toilet. The VIP latrines operate just like the traditional toilets in villages.

“There is no way this system will work. They are now using inferior material and the toilets will not last for more than three years. In Otjozondjupa Region the system came to a standstill. Contractors are not getting any profit from the project.” According to a local expert in sanitation, Eline van der Linden, no toilet system will work without educating communities on daily cleaning. A long-term solid periodic maintenance plan should also be in place from the onset. She said that despite millions of dollars used in 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 cholera. Open defecation is also associated with higher incidences of assault when women and girls go into the veld. “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 the communities.

The choice of technology/infrastructure is important but the relationship management is critical to the success of any toilet system. Imagine if municipalities would walk away after the sewerage pipe has been installed and leave the residents to work out what to do with their flush toilets,” Van der Linde said.

“They are now constructing VIP latrines in each of all 14 regions. One wonders why VIP latrines were specified, especially in areas prone to flooding and with high water tables. Government must construct toilets that people can use for over 10 years, for value for money.”

ILENI NANDJATO