Elijah Ngurare, the deputy executive director of agriculture, water and land reform, says about 20 water pumps were stolen in less than a month in the Ohangwena region this year.
He says despite the government’s efforts to provide the rural communities with potable water, cases of theft of water infrastructure continue to increase in the region.
Ngurare revealed this on social media over the weekend.
He could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
Prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says the vandalism and theft of water infrastructure is of huge concern.
She says this undermines the government’s efforts to provide safe water to all needy communities.
The prime minister said this at a belated 34th Independence Day anniversary event at Ohamutwetautende village at Epembe in the Ohangwena region on Saturday.
“I implore you to protect and guard these assets against vandalism.”
On the same day, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila handed over a borehole to the community of Ohamutwetautende village and surrounding communities to the tune of N$604 641.
She said the project was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform and the Office of the Prime Minister.
“I implore you to use these boreholes to strengthen your households’ resilience to disaster risk and increase food security, as well as to create jobs for the locals through community-irrigated gardens and school gardening,” she said.
The prime minister said another borehole has been drilled at Ohamukwata village to the tune of N$822 223 at a cost of N$2,7 million.
Another drilling and installation took place at Oikaku village worth N$3,6 million.
“This water infrastructure we are inaugurating today is the outcome of the government’s efforts to mitigate disaster risk and strengthen the resilience of our community to drought . . . I am inspired to believe the community will protect this infrastructure.
“I am also hopeful that you will make optimal use of the water to promote development activities in the area,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
She said water is a catalyst for development that should be used to improve local development, apart from ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water to promote good health.
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