Water woes ravage Oshikoto

By Hileni Nembwaya
THE regional Governor of Oshikoto, Henock Kankoshi has revealed that the area is severely hit by water scarcity as many rural school taps have run dry.
Kankoshi said that water from many of the boreholes that were drilled years ago was now unfit for human consumption, while in many areas the water is said to be saline.
The water scarcity in the region is said to have now become a major regional priority.
“Many schools, especially those that are in the rural communities are faced with a dire need of water, while some are without any drop of water. The situation has affected us badly, however we have requested several ministries to bail us out,” said Kankoshi. Kankoshi has however assured the inhabitants that the regional council through the Ministry of Agriculture will be setting up water tanks at schools, health centres and community water points throughout the whole region where water is scarce.
Kankoshi further indicated that the poverty eradication ministry has thus far responded to the region’s outcry as the ministry is currently planning to drill two boreholes at a cost of more than N$300 000 at Nehale lya mpingana constituency.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services is also in the process of contracting a company to drill boreholes in the rural areas where there are clinics and hospitals.
The councillor of Onyaanya constituency, Petrus Kambala said that Onyaanya is one of the constituencies that are hard hit by the water shortage.
“I am happy for such initiatives because they would bring relief to our communities. I am really happy with what the Government is doing in our community,” he said. Earlier this year, the President announced that the Government is in need of more than N$24 billion to improve the on the current 33.5 percent water available countrywide. At the moment only about N$255 million is available for water supply projects in the country between this year and 2019.