Dordabis community unable to afford diesel for water pump

DORDABIS – The community of Dordabis, located 80 kilometres east of Windhoek, is unable to afford diesel used to pump water from the local borehole.

The borehole that was built by government to assist the village of about 2 500 inhabitants is currently abandoned due to a lack of diesel for the water-pump machine.

Community members are now forced to collect water illegally from the local police station, which is supplied by the Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater).

In a recent interview with Nampa, Dordabis resident, Simeon Paulus said community members were failing to raise their N$30 contributions to buy the diesel.

“The challenge is that many of the people at Dordabis are unemployed, making it difficult for them to afford the monthly contributions,” he said.

Another resident, Petrus Areb, said sometimes the police station would close their taps, leaving community members with no water at all.

“The government, through our councillor, should assist us in this regard, as the majority of the people here have no money to contribute. Now, we have to struggle to get water illegally from the police station,” stated Areb.

Speaking to Nampa on Monday, Windhoek Rural constituency councillor, Penina Inga-Ita said the community is able to make contributions towards the purchase of diesel for the pump, but they want government to do everything for them.

“We need to work together as government and the public in order to bring about development. Government resources are limited, and government cannot do it alone,” said Inga-Ita.

She noted, though, that only 30% of the local population was employed, by the government as police officers, teachers, nurses or farmworkers.

Inga-Ita said the constituency was vast, and implemented structures known as the village development community units to help fast-track changes.

– Nampa

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