Water woes at Ngwangwa

RUNDU – Residents of Ngwangwa Informal Settlement area, some 10 kilometres southwest of Rundu, on Friday expressed concern over the lack of potable water at the settlement since Independence.

Headman of Ngwangwa Donald Kandjimi told Nampa that residents were still getting water from wells. He said the situation was getting out of hand as most wells were drying up because the population was increasing.The headman appealed to the newly elected Rundu Town Council to seek a solution in order to provide the area with sufficient potable water.A teacher at Ngwangwa Junior Primary, Frieda Litwayi, said the water shortage was seriously affecting school activities because on certain days pupils were allowed to leave early to go and fetch water at nearby places.Another problem outlined by Litwayi was that of a “filthy, salt-water” stream which teachers and pupils had to cross to reach the school.She said the salty water caused skin disease as well as bilharzia among pupils and parents at Ngwangwa.The Regional Councillor for the Rundu Rural Constituency, Herbert Shixwameni, said a combined effort was needed to tackle the water problem facing the Ngwangwa area.He urged the Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Rural Water Supply to provide potable water in water tanks while a lasting solution was sought to the problem.The councillor encouraged the affected residents to remain calm.He said their problem would be addressed as a matter of urgency.- NampaHe said the situation was getting out of hand as most wells were drying up because the population was increasing.The headman appealed to the newly elected Rundu Town Council to seek a solution in order to provide the area with sufficient potable water.A teacher at Ngwangwa Junior Primary, Frieda Litwayi, said the water shortage was seriously affecting school activities because on certain days pupils were allowed to leave early to go and fetch water at nearby places.Another problem outlined by Litwayi was that of a “filthy, salt-water” stream which teachers and pupils had to cross to reach the school.She said the salty water caused skin disease as well as bilharzia among pupils and parents at Ngwangwa.The Regional Councillor for the Rundu Rural Constituency, Herbert Shixwameni, said a combined effort was needed to tackle the water problem facing the Ngwangwa area.He urged the Ministry of Agriculture’s Department of Rural Water Supply to provide potable water in water tanks while a lasting solution was sought to the problem.The councillor encouraged the affected residents to remain calm.He said their problem would be addressed as a matter of urgency.- Nampa