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EDITORIAL: The luxury of water

Oshikoto regional governor Penda Ya Ndakolo painted a very worrisome picture over the water crisis that continues to plague the region.

Despite an avalanche of groundwater resources, it seems government has done little to ensure that community members have access to potable water.

While Ya Ndakolo announced several measures planned to avert a crisis – a commendable development – it is unacceptable that water is still a luxury to many of our countrymen and -women.

It is not the first time the regional government is highlighting this crisis. But despite being aware of the situation, we still hear the same song in the state of the region addresses every single year.

One wonders how the regional leadership is held accountable, because they announce the same challenges year in and year out.

During his 2022 address, Ya Ndakolo listed rape, road accidents, alcohol abuse and reckless driving as some of the challenges plaguing Oshikoto, and said steps would be taken to address these issues. Has this been done, or are we just quick to make new commitments? One would have expected the governor to account and share with the region - and the nation at large - what his team has done to normalise the situation. As per tradition, it should not come as a surprise if the governor makes new commitments without giving a report on how past challenges were dealt with.

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Namibian Sun 2024-05-16

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Premier League: Manchester United 3 vs 2 Newcastle | Brighton 1 vs 2 Chelsea | Tottenham Hotspur 0 vs 2 Manchester City | Aston Villa 3 vs 3 Liverpool LaLiga: Las Palmas 2 vs 2 Real Betis | Celta Vigo 2 vs 1 Athletic Club | Getafe 0 vs 3 Atletico Madrid | Sevilla 0 vs 1 Cadiz | Rayo Vallecano 2 vs 1 Granada | Girona 0 vs 1 Villarreal | Real Madrid 5 vs 0 Deportivo Alaves | Osasuna 1 vs 1 Mallorca | Barcelona 2 vs 0 Real Sociedad SerieA: Fiorentina 2 vs 1 Monza | Lecce 0 vs 2 Udinese Katima Mulilo: 11° | 31° Rundu: 11° | 30° Eenhana: 11° | 31° Oshakati: 13° | 30° Ruacana: 13° | 30° Tsumeb: 14° | 28° Otjiwarongo: 12° | 27° Omaruru: 14° | 28° Windhoek: 11° | 26° Gobabis: 13° | 26° Henties Bay: 19° | 35° Wind speed: 42km/h, Wind direction: E, Low tide: 04:48, High tide: 10:54, Low Tide: 16:42, High tide: 23:24 Swakopmund: 20° | 26° Wind speed: 26km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 04:46, High tide: 10:52, Low Tide: 16:40, High tide: 23:22 Walvis Bay: 23° | 34° Wind speed: 34km/h, Wind direction: SE, Low tide: 04:46, High tide: 10:51, Low Tide: 16:40, High tide: 23:21 Rehoboth: 12° | 26° Mariental: 15° | 28° Keetmanshoop: 18° | 29° Aranos: 15° | 28° Lüderitz: 19° | 35° Ariamsvlei: 19° | 31° Oranjemund: 14° | 26° Luanda: 25° | 26° Gaborone: 15° | 29° Lubumbashi: 11° | 27° Mbabane: 14° | 28° Maseru: 10° | 24° Antananarivo: 12° | 22° Lilongwe: 14° | 28° Maputo: 17° | 30° Windhoek: 11° | 26° Cape Town: 16° | 20° Durban: 18° | 25° Johannesburg: 15° | 25° Dar es Salaam: 23° | 32° Lusaka: 15° | 27° Harare: 12° | 25° Currency: GBP to NAD 22.99 | EUR to NAD 19.75 | CNY to NAD 2.52 | USD to NAD 18.18 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.3 | EGP to NAD 0.38 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.72 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.54 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.22 | USD to DZD 133.92 | USD to AOA 847.42 | USD to BWP 13.53 | USD to EGP 46.86 | USD to KES 130.48 | USD to NGN 1520 | USD to ZAR 18.18 | USD to ZMW 25.1 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 79509 Up +0.19% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1740.48 Up +0.45% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 13411.39 Down -0.07% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 26142.84 Up +3.27% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9151.06 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 379.43/OZ DOWN -0.0052 | Copper US$ 4.85/lb DOWN -0.0095 | Zinc US$ 2 979.80/T DOWN -0.15% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 83.71/BBP UP +0.52% | Platinum US$ 1 060.61/OZ DOWN -0.0086 Sport results: Premier League: Manchester United 3 vs 2 Newcastle | Brighton 1 vs 2 Chelsea | Tottenham Hotspur 0 vs 2 Manchester City | Aston Villa 3 vs 3 Liverpool LaLiga: Las Palmas 2 vs 2 Real Betis | Celta Vigo 2 vs 1 Athletic Club | Getafe 0 vs 3 Atletico Madrid | Sevilla 0 vs 1 Cadiz | Rayo Vallecano 2 vs 1 Granada | Girona 0 vs 1 Villarreal | Real Madrid 5 vs 0 Deportivo Alaves | Osasuna 1 vs 1 Mallorca | Barcelona 2 vs 0 Real Sociedad SerieA: Fiorentina 2 vs 1 Monza | Lecce 0 vs 2 Udinese Weather: Katima Mulilo: 11° | 31° Rundu: 11° | 30° Eenhana: 11° | 31° Oshakati: 13° | 30° Ruacana: 13° | 30° Tsumeb: 14° | 28° Otjiwarongo: 12° | 27° Omaruru: 14° | 28° Windhoek: 11° | 26° Gobabis: 13° | 26° Henties Bay: 19° | 35° Wind speed: 42km/h, Wind direction: E, Low tide: 04:48, High tide: 10:54, Low Tide: 16:42, High tide: 23:24 Swakopmund: 20° | 26° Wind speed: 26km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 04:46, High tide: 10:52, Low Tide: 16:40, High tide: 23:22 Walvis Bay: 23° | 34° Wind speed: 34km/h, Wind direction: SE, Low tide: 04:46, High tide: 10:51, Low Tide: 16:40, High tide: 23:21 Rehoboth: 12° | 26° Mariental: 15° | 28° Keetmanshoop: 18° | 29° Aranos: 15° | 28° Lüderitz: 19° | 35° Ariamsvlei: 19° | 31° Oranjemund: 14° | 26° Luanda: 25° | 26° Gaborone: 15° | 29° Lubumbashi: 11° | 27° Mbabane: 14° | 28° Maseru: 10° | 24° Antananarivo: 12° | 22° Lilongwe: 14° | 28° Maputo: 17° | 30° Windhoek: 11° | 26° Cape Town: 16° | 20° Durban: 18° | 25° Johannesburg: 15° | 25° Dar es Salaam: 23° | 32° Lusaka: 15° | 27° Harare: 12° | 25° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 22.99 | EUR to NAD 19.75 | CNY to NAD 2.52 | USD to NAD 18.18 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.3 | EGP to NAD 0.38 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.72 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.54 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.22 | USD to DZD 133.92 | USD to AOA 847.42 | USD to BWP 13.53 | USD to EGP 46.86 | USD to KES 130.48 | USD to NGN 1520 | USD to ZAR 18.18 | USD to ZMW 25.1 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 79509 Up +0.19% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1740.48 Up +0.45% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 13411.39 Down -0.07% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 26142.84 Up +3.27% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9151.06 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 379.43/OZ DOWN -0.0052 | Copper US$ 4.85/lb DOWN -0.0095 | Zinc US$ 2 979.80/T DOWN -0.15% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 83.71/BBP UP +0.52% | Platinum US$ 1 060.61/OZ DOWN -0.0086