Imagine waking up every day not knowing if you'll have enough water to drink, to cook, or even to keep your children clean. This is the harsh reality for countless families in the Oshikoto region of Namibia, where a severe water shortage is turning daily life into an unbearable struggle. But here's where it gets controversial: While officials point to infrastructure issues, residents feel abandoned, their cries for help seemingly ignored.
In the heart of this crisis lies Onankali, where the dry season's intensification has transformed a basic necessity into a precious commodity. Eba Kandovazu reports that the situation isn't isolated; it's a region-wide problem, and it's hitting harder and earlier than ever before.
Stephenson Tuukondjele, a local government official, confirmed that the water shortage isn't just limited to Onalukula village. "Normally, we encounter the water shortage problem around October or November, but this year, some areas ran dry as early as July," he explained to Nampa. The existing water supply, sourced from Angola through a network of pipelines, simply can't keep pace with the burgeoning demand from both households and livestock. "Unfortunately, we are at the receiving end of a very complex system, and the water just isn’t enough to meet the demand," he added, highlighting the systemic challenges at play.
And this is the part most people miss: the human cost. Ndahafa Haimbodi, a resident and member of the Onalukula water committee, paints a grim picture. This isn't a new problem, she says, but it's reached a breaking point. "This year has been worse. Since June, we haven’t had any running water. The pipeline in Eben-Ezer has become completely dry, and our taps no longer produce water," she lamented.
Driven by desperation, Haimbodi and her neighbors are forced to purchase water from the fortunate few whose pipelines remain functional. But this comes at a steep price. "It’s a struggle. People charge us between N$5 and N$20 per five-litre container, and without a source of income apart from pensions, it’s hard to afford," she explained. For many, especially the elderly who rely on meager pensions, this daily expense is crippling.
Haimbodi, a 50-year-old, also faces mobility challenges, requiring her to pay others an additional N$10 to N$20 per trip to collect water on her behalf, often using vehicles or donkey carts. The financial burden is compounded by the physical strain of securing this essential resource.
Despite repeated appeals to various government offices, Haimbodi and her fellow committee members have met with little success. "I’ve contacted the Rural Water Supply Office, the councillor’s office, and even the governor’s office. they used to answer, but now, no one is picking up our calls," she revealed, highlighting a growing sense of abandonment. Government water deliveries, once a lifeline, have become a distant memory. "I have receipts from last year proving I’ve paid for water at our communal tap, yet we’ve not seen any trucks come to fill our tank in months," she said, expressing frustration and disbelief. The lack of water is not only impacting homes but also the well-being of livestock, leaving goats and cattle parched and vulnerable.
The impact extends beyond households, affecting critical institutions like the Eben-Ezer Primary School. Parents are now forced to buy water and transport it to the school to ensure their children can benefit from the school-feeding program. "Even the toilets at the school don’t have running water. It’s shameful," Haimbodi added, underscoring the dire consequences for the community's most vulnerable members.
Haimbodi urgently calls on the government to repair and replace the aging pipelines in Eben-Ezer, a plea echoed by many in the region.
In response, Tuukondjele acknowledged the infrastructure challenges, stating that rehabilitation efforts are underway. However, he cited factors such as power outages disrupting purification plants and pumping stations as significant obstacles. The government is also dispatching water trucks to affected areas on a rotational basis, but with limited resources, they can only reach a fraction of the communities in need. "We are doing our best with the resources available, but it’s a huge challenge to deliver water to over 150 villages with just a few trucks," he admitted.
Long-term solutions, such as the Oshivelo water project and the drilling of boreholes, are being pursued to address the underlying causes of the crisis. But these projects take time, leaving communities like Onalukula to grapple with immediate and pressing needs.
But here's where it gets controversial... Is the government doing enough, and are these long-term solutions coming fast enough to prevent further suffering? Or are there deeper systemic issues at play, such as resource allocation or prioritization, that need to be addressed? What responsibility do international actors have in assisting with this crisis?
This situation in Oshikoto raises profound questions about water rights, government accountability, and the resilience of communities facing environmental challenges. What are your thoughts on this crisis? Do you believe the government's response is adequate? What innovative solutions could be implemented to alleviate the water shortage and ensure a sustainable water supply for the region? Share your perspectives and let's discuss potential solutions in the comments below.
