President hears about Mariental flood woes

A DELEGATION from the Hardap Region, led by Governor Katrina Hanse, this week met with President Hifikepunye Pohamba at State House to discuss the situation at Mariental, which was devastated by floods in February.

The group is concerned about a number of issues, including the possibility of more floods in the coming rainy season and a decision by insurance companies not to cover any further flood damage at the town. The group provided Pohamba with an overview of the current situation facing the task force delegated to look into the situation at Mariental, and shared suggestions on how to move forward.”We’re approaching the next rainy season and not much has been done to take care of the concerns there,” Hanse told the media after meeting with the President.”We’re fine on a long-term basis, but what if the rain comes now (in a similar fashion)?” she said.”Looking at the position of insurance companies, there might be no flood cover,” she said.The insurance industry has told the Mariental Municipality that it would not be able to reconsider its decision unless something was done to ensure that floods would not happen again.The task force had been moving very slowly, Hanse said, noting that their final report was only expected by July next year.In the long term, Hanse said, suggestions to move the main road passing through the town, or to clear out the dams contributing to the problem were all being investigated.Pohamba has said that he would look into the town’s plight.This year alone, Mariental and its surrounding areas have suffered four separate floods, which the insurance industry says has cost it three times more than in previous years.Flood losses this year are estimated at more than N$100 million.The group provided Pohamba with an overview of the current situation facing the task force delegated to look into the situation at Mariental, and shared suggestions on how to move forward.”We’re approaching the next rainy season and not much has been done to take care of the concerns there,” Hanse told the media after meeting with the President.”We’re fine on a long-term basis, but what if the rain comes now (in a similar fashion)?” she said.”Looking at the position of insurance companies, there might be no flood cover,” she said.The insurance industry has told the Mariental Municipality that it would not be able to reconsider its decision unless something was done to ensure that floods would not happen again.The task force had been moving very slowly, Hanse said, noting that their final report was only expected by July next year.In the long term, Hanse said, suggestions to move the main road passing through the town, or to clear out the dams contributing to the problem were all being investigated.Pohamba has said that he would look into the town’s plight.This year alone, Mariental and its surrounding areas have suffered four separate floods, which the insurance industry says has cost it three times more than in previous years.Flood losses this year are estimated at more than N$100 million.