By Patience Nyangove
AT least 40 000 construction workers in Windhoek will lose their jobs due to the severe water crisis bedevilling the capital if the City of Windhoek (CoW) prohibits all construction projects of any form as part of desperate measures to mitigate the crisis, Confidente has learnt.
In an interview, Tuesday, CoW corporate communications manager, Joshua Amukugo said thousands of jobs in the construction industry were currently at stake as the water situation worsens daily.
Amukugo said all necessary measures which include the total banning of the construction industry as a last resort mitigation measure are now on the table being considered until the water crisis is solved.
“We understand the consequences that will come as a result of that measure and that’s why we are currently appealing to everyone to save water. Some people in the construction industry leave water pipes running while wasting water when we are saying everyone must save water. If we fail to save water drastic measures would be taken anytime. It’s up to us,” he said.
Amukugo added that some of the drastic measures the City will take include water rationing with the precious commodity being made available only between 6am and 10am daily as well as limiting the number of gallons each household is allowed to use a month and if they exceed the limit they would be charged double.
Bärbel Kirchner, the consulting general manager of the Construction Industries Federation of Namibia (CIF) said if the construction industry in Windhoek is to be shut down as a result of the water shortage it would have huge implications.
“Demand can be reduced by determining the locality of projects and not by stopping all building and construction work altogether. The construction sector is one of the largest employing sectors. It is estimated that 40 000 or more persons are employed in Windhoek alone. If projects were to be shut down as a result of water shortage, it would have catastrophic implications – it would lead to job losses and increase unemployment and poverty.” “We understand that the City of Windhoek must take measures to reduce the consumption of water. We are also informing our members on a regular basis that we need to focus on processes that will reduce the usage of water. However, our industry is very reliant on the supply of water. We cannot simply stop building – it would have catastrophic economic and social implications. Finding and developing additional water sources must receive absolute priority by our Government. Without water we will not be in the position to achieve our development goals for a prosperous future,” she said.
Kirchner warned that if construction was to be unilaterally banned in Windhoek where numerous civil and building projects are underway that can’t be stopped they will be consequences of significant backlash and costs of legal actions. “It would be important that these projects are completed.”
She added that if there is to be a slowdown of construction projects it should be a key requirement that local companies be allowed to operate for their survival.
“However, if there was to be a deliberate slowdown of building and construction projects, it is a key requirement that Namibian companies will be given the work to ensure their survival and employment in Namibia’s construction sector. Most Namibian companies in Namibia’s construction sector do not have the option at this stage to find alternative markets for their products and services. Only the largest contracting companies would have the capacity to do so. Instead, foreign companies operating in Namibia would be in a better position to diversify their markets,” she said. She also called on Government to speed up implementation of mid and long-term plans to increase the supply of water.
“We had requested a meeting with Honourable John Mutorwa, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. The industry needed to be informed about the gravity of the water crisis and how it potentially would impact operations in the building and construction sector. At the meeting we were informed about the current supply of water in the Khomas region, that existing resources would not be sufficient to meet the demand for residential and commercial users, unless all users immediately would reduce their consumption by 40 percent.
“However, irrespective of whether we are experiencing a drought or not, current sources are not aligned with the ongoing growth of demand over the years. The water crisis has been looming for over 20 years, considering the growth of the city and central urban population and our desert climate. Managing demand is critical but even more important would be to focus on the supply side of water. It would require acute resource allocation by our Government and must be an absolute priority.”
Meanwhile Amukugo revealed that a final decision is yet to be taken on whether the City’s alternative source of water should be the construction of a water pipeline that draws water from either the Kavango River or the Atlantic Ocean.