Chiefs want NamWater ‘removed’

GOVERNMENT should take away the function of rural water supply from NamWater, because rural communities cannot afford to buy water any more, the Council of Traditional Chiefs said yesterday.

“Rural water supply has become costly and unaffordable to the majority of our people, who in many instances are orphans and vulnerable families in our society,” said Ndonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, who chairs the Council. In a speech read on his behalf by his senior councillor at the opening of the annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Chiefs in Windhoek, Kauluma said rural water tariffs had become so costly that “a lot of rural people will not be able to have access to clean water as they have no money to pay for it”.”We propose that Government take the responsibility of rural water supply away from NamWater in order to make it more affordable to the majority of the people,” Kauluma added.The Chief also said it was time to implement the Community Courts Act so that culprits could be tried before these courts.It was also necessary to train traditional judges and secretaries so that they could carry out their functions effectively once the Act was implemented.Traditional chiefs needed a medical aid scheme, as many of them had no permanent jobs and had to rely on their families to support them with regard to medical expenses, said Kauluma.Ovambanderu Chief Munjuku Nguvauva II, co-chair of the Council of Traditional Leaders, asked for adequate funding for traditional authorities and saw them as partners in development.”It is high time that development is felt at village level,” Munjuku said in a speech read by a senior councillor.Munjuku further lashed out at traditional chiefs who used politics for personal gain instead of uniting their communities.”Traditional leaders should focus on traditional matters and leave politics to politicians, otherwise we risk dividing our communities,” Nguvauva urged.”Those who are politicising traditional matters for their own selfish aspirations must relinquish their traditional leadership positions.Traditional leaders are seen more and more at political rallies and are seldom seen organising community meetings,” the Ovambanderu Chief criticised.The Council of Traditional Chiefs was established in 1997 and represents 42 traditional authorities recognised by the Government.In a speech read on his behalf by his senior councillor at the opening of the annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Chiefs in Windhoek, Kauluma said rural water tariffs had become so costly that “a lot of rural people will not be able to have access to clean water as they have no money to pay for it”.”We propose that Government take the responsibility of rural water supply away from NamWater in order to make it more affordable to the majority of the people,” Kauluma added.The Chief also said it was time to implement the Community Courts Act so that culprits could be tried before these courts. It was also necessary to train traditional judges and secretaries so that they could carry out their functions effectively once the Act was implemented.Traditional chiefs needed a medical aid scheme, as many of them had no permanent jobs and had to rely on their families to support them with regard to medical expenses, said Kauluma.Ovambanderu Chief Munjuku Nguvauva II, co-chair of the Council of Traditional Leaders, asked for adequate funding for traditional authorities and saw them as partners in development.”It is high time that development is felt at village level,” Munjuku said in a speech read by a senior councillor.Munjuku further lashed out at traditional chiefs who used politics for personal gain instead of uniting their communities.”Traditional leaders should focus on traditional matters and leave politics to politicians, otherwise we risk dividing our communities,” Nguvauva urged.”Those who are politicising traditional matters for their own selfish aspirations must relinquish their traditional leadership positions.Traditional leaders are seen more and more at political rallies and are seldom seen organising community meetings,” the Ovambanderu Chief criticised.The Council of Traditional Chiefs was established in 1997 and represents 42 traditional authorities recognised by the Government.