Transition to modern town life tough for villagers

RESIDENTS of Helao Nafidi in the North are up in arms after the town council closed communal taps used by villagers within the boundaries of the newly proclaimed town.

The town, with about 43 000 residents, encompasses five traditional villages with village headmen – Oshikango, Omafo, Ohangwena, Onuno and Engela. Villagers say they are now being governed by their traditional authorities as well as the new town council, and the system is confusing.On Friday they protested to express dissatisfaction with the council’s decisions.In a petition handed to Ohangwena Governor Usko Nghaamwa, villagers say their communal taps were installed by NamWater as part of its rural water-provision programme long before Helao Nafidi was declared a town.They also say they helped dig trenches and lay pipes to supply their homesteads with water.They object to the fact that the Helao Nafidi Town Council took over the water provision and started billing them as if they lived in a modern town.Their water supply has now been suspended because of non-payment, with some debts dating back to when they were paying NamWater for the service.”We think this is unrealistic and unfair.Helao Nafidi Town Council cannot ask us to pay the money we owe NamWater,” the residents said.”The Town Council is asking or forcing us to pay basic charges for our own infrastructure.This is unacceptable.”They say they have had no clean water for months and have to drink water from earth dams, where people wash and where their livestock drink and defecate in the water.Villagers also complain that the town council is charging them refuse removal tariffs although they are not provided with rubbish bins.Villagers say they are now being governed by their traditional authorities as well as the new town council, and the system is confusing.On Friday they protested to express dissatisfaction with the council’s decisions.In a petition handed to Ohangwena Governor Usko Nghaamwa, villagers say their communal taps were installed by NamWater as part of its rural water-provision programme long before Helao Nafidi was declared a town.They also say they helped dig trenches and lay pipes to supply their homesteads with water.They object to the fact that the Helao Nafidi Town Council took over the water provision and started billing them as if they lived in a modern town.Their water supply has now been suspended because of non-payment, with some debts dating back to when they were paying NamWater for the service.”We think this is unrealistic and unfair.Helao Nafidi Town Council cannot ask us to pay the money we owe NamWater,” the residents said.”The Town Council is asking or forcing us to pay basic charges for our own infrastructure.This is unacceptable.”They say they have had no clean water for months and have to drink water from earth dams, where people wash and where their livestock drink and defecate in the water.Villagers also complain that the town council is charging them refuse removal tariffs although they are not provided with rubbish bins.