Oshikoto Residents Forced to Camp at Wells Amid Water Scarcity, Local Officials Sound Alarm

Onambiga, Oshikoto Region—Officials in the Eengodi and Okankolo constituencies have raised alarm over the critical water shortages affecting residents in their areas.

According to NAMPA, the councillor for the Eengodi constituency, who spoke in an interview with Nampa on Monday, people in the 61 villages under his jurisdiction are struggling to secure water for their households and livestock.

Neshuku reported that the residents have resorted to walking long distances to access water, with some even spending nights at traditional wells. They wait for water levels to rise in these wells before collecting the water, which Neshuku noted is of poor quality due to high salt content and contamination. He called on the government to take immediate action, urging them to transport water to the affected areas.

In the Okankolo constituency, councillor Hans Nambodi voiced similar concerns. Nambodi stated that the water scarcity issue has escalated to a point where schools have suspended feeding programs and study sessions. He cited reports of diarrhea among residents as evidence of the water’s poor quality.

“Sixty-five per cent of the population of the constituency is experiencing water shortages, especially those in remote areas,” Nambodi said. He added that children in these areas have been unable to attend school because they must stay overnight at traditional wells to collect water. Nambodi appealed to the government to transport water via trucks and to consider drilling boreholes to alleviate the crisis.

Attempts to reach Stevenson Tuukondjele, the head of rural water supply and sanitation in Oshikoto at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered.