Kamanjab – The Kamanjab Village Council is undertaking a significant project to drill its own boreholes, aiming to ensure a reliable water supply for the community and surrounding areas. Funded by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development with N.dollars 5 million, the project is intended to reduce dependence on NamWater for water delivery.
According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Bianca Nguaiko, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kamanjab Village Council, informed that the project, contracted to Shamarunga Trading Enterprises CC, is expected to be completed by February 2024. So far, one of the boreholes has been completed, and two more are slated for drilling within the week.
Nguaiko highlighted the project’s goal to alleviate water supply issues faced by residents in different areas. The council aims to adopt a holistic and coordinated approach to water management, transitioning from traditional sub-sector-based methods. The village council plans to become the sole water service provider to its residents.
Upon completion, the council will construct a new reservoir and treatment facility to supply purified water to households at a reduced rate. The project also includes the installation of new pipes from the boreholes to the Worth solar plant to minimize overhead costs.
The Kamanjab Village Council currently owes NamWater N.dollars 3.6 million, a debt accrued due to the government’s directive for free water services during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this, the council has devised a specific tariff linked to prepaid water meters, ensuring that ultra-low-income consumers receive an allocation of 5,000 liters of free water. The tariff ranges from N.dollars 75 to N.dollars 475.
Additionally, Nguaiko mentioned that residents owe the council N.dollars 13 million, including N.dollars 2 million in Build Together loans and N.dollars 3 million in erven loans.
