Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Anna Shinana
Published on 2024-04-07 15:27:17
Elijah Ngurare, the deputy executive director of agriculture, water, and land reform, expressed his concern over the increasing cases of water pump theft in the Ohangwena region. He mentioned that about 20 water pumps were stolen in less than a month this year, despite the government’s efforts to provide rural communities with potable water.
This information was shared by Ngurare on social media over the weekend, as he highlighted the challenges faced by the region due to the theft of water infrastructure. Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also addressed this issue, stating that the vandalism and theft of water infrastructure undermine the government’s efforts to provide safe water to needy communities.
During a belated 34th Independence Day anniversary event at Ohamutwetautende village in the Ohangwena region, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila emphasized the importance of protecting water infrastructure against vandalism. She handed over a borehole to the community of Ohamutwetautende village and surrounding communities, totaling N$604,641, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform and the Office of the Prime Minister.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila encouraged the community to use the boreholes to strengthen their households’ resilience to disaster risk, increase food security, create jobs through community-irrigated gardens, and school gardening. She also mentioned the drilling and installation of boreholes in other villages like Ohamukwata and Oikaku, highlighting the government’s efforts to mitigate disaster risk and strengthen community resilience to drought.
The prime minister emphasized the importance of water as a catalyst for development and promoting local development while ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water for good health. She urged the community to protect the newly inaugurated water infrastructure and make optimal use of the water for development activities in the area.
In conclusion, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila stressed the value of water in promoting development and encouraged the community to utilize it effectively for the benefit of all. The government’s efforts to provide safe water to rural communities were acknowledged, despite the challenges posed by the theft of water infrastructure in the region.
Read the original article on The Namibian
