ERONGO RURAL COMMUNITIES DECRY LONG WATER CRISIS

By Isabel Bento
(NAMPA FEATURES SERVICE)

OTJIMBINGWE, 24 MAR (NAMPA) – Community leaders in the Otjimbingwe and surrounding settlements have raised concern over the persistent water shortages and poor road infrastructure, warning that these challenges continue to undermine livelihoods and development.
Otimbingwe Village Council councillor Chris Mukua said unreliable water supply remains the most pressing issue for residents, particularly amid poor rainfall during the current season.
In a recent interview with Nampa, Mukua, who is a resident of Ondjeombaranga resettlement, noted that the area has received less than 100 millimetres of rain since November, leaving both people and livestock vulnerable.
“No rain means no water and supply from NamWater is inconsistent, with communities sometimes going five to seven days without water due to pipeline disruptions and pump failures,” he said.
At the time of this agency’s visit, the resident’s had been without water for about four days.
Mukua explained that limited storage capacity in the village worsens the situation, as most households rely on small tanks that cannot sustain them during prolonged outages. As a result, livestock have begun to die while residents struggle to access water for basic needs.
He further attributed the strain on water supply to increasing demand from nearby towns and mining operations.
“Water drawn from regional sources is under significant pressure. The output is too heavy compared to the input,” he said.
Mukua also raised long-standing concerns over the condition of the road between Karibib and Otjimbingwe, describing it as a development bottleneck that has remained unresolved for decades.
According to him, plans for upgrading the approximately 60-kilometre (km) road were completed as far back as 2013, but construction has yet to begin.
“Nothing has changed since independence. It is the same old road and this poor infrastructure continues to isolate the area and hinder economic growth.”
Similar concerns were echoed by Kapekarua Lucky Metirapi, who represents small-scale miners at Neu Schwaben small-scale mining settlement just about 20km from Karibib and 36km to Otjimbingwe.
Kapekarua said the lack of access to clean and reliable water has forced the community to depend entirely on untreated water sources, which are used for drinking, cooking, farming and small-scale gardening activities.
He cautioned that this poses serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children.
He explained that despite the presence of two large water tanks donated by a mining company several years ago, the infrastructure remains non-functional due to the absence of a formal connection to treated water supply systems. As a result, the tanks stand idle while residents continue to rely on unsafe water sources.
“The situation has become more urgent with the establishment of a community kindergarten and adult literacy classes, which currently serve more than 20 children and several adults. These children need clean water, but we are forced to use untreated water even in a learning environment,” he expressed.
The community leader added that the community, made up of approximately 300 residents including over 200 small-scale miners, is now attempting to mobilise its own limited resources to address the crisis.
He said plans are underway to collect contributions from miners to raise about N.dollars 2 200 needed to install a water meter, which would allow connection to a treated water supply.
However, Kapekarua noted that the financial burden on the already struggling miners makes this effort challenging, as many depend on irregular incomes from small-scale mining and subsistence activities.
Beyond water, he highlighted the absence of basic services such as healthcare, saying residents must travel long distances, often at night, to access medical assistance in nearby towns.
He suggested that even a small clinic with a visiting nurse would significantly improve conditions in the area.
Kapekarua also pointed to education challenges, noting that school-going children are forced to travel to Karibib due to the absence of a primary school in Neu Schwaben, placing additional strain on families.
Responding to these concerns, chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council management committee Lazarus Kanelombe acknowledged that water scarcity and infrastructure gaps remain key challenges facing the region.
In a recent council address, Kanelombe said water shortages have impeded rural development, particularly in constituencies such as Karibib, Daures and Omaruru, where access to clean water and essential services remains limited.
He stressed that the council is working closely with stakeholders, including NamWater and the mining sector, to urgently improve water supply systems, noting that communities such as Otjimbingwe have endured shortages for too long and require immediate intervention.
On road infrastructure, Kanelombe reiterated that the council will advocate for the construction of the Karibib-Otjimbingwe road to bitumen standard within the next five years, describing it as critical for economic growth, service delivery and restoring public confidence.
He further highlighted the importance of feeder roads in connecting remote communities, saying their development will be prioritised under the Erongo Region Road Masterplan.
“We do acknowledge that urgent action is needed to address immediate water shortages and long-standing infrastructure delays that continue to affect daily life in rural parts of the region,” Kanelombe expressed.
(NAMPA)
IB/EK/PS