Kavango west: Despite significant investment in water projects across the Kavango West Region, residents continue to face severe shortages due to inadequate infrastructure and low water pressure.

According to Namibia Press Agency, recent assessments by the Kavango West Regional Council on the implementation status of projects funded under the Value Added Tax (VAT) allocation for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years reveal critical infrastructure failures exacerbating the crisis. Residents across the region wake up every morning to a routine of walking up to five kilometers to the nearest water source as infrastructure struggles to meet demand.

At Sivare village in the Tondoro Constituency, residents walk five kilometers daily to reach the Mbome village borehole, while in Tondoro village, desperate residents draw water directly from the river, risking animal attacks and waterborne diseases. Theresia Kambazera, a Tondoro village resident, expressed the perilous situation by highlighting the danger of crocodile attacks while fetching water from the river.

Community member Dala Mukuve from Sivare village expressed frustration about the daily trek to fetch water, which affects the community's daily life and children's education. Boreholes completed in July 2024 remain uninstalled, leaving communities without the promised supply.

Infrastructure problems stem not from a lack of projects but from poor design and implementation. Water systems across multiple constituencies suffer from insufficient capacity, low tank stands causing poor pressure, and undersized solar pumping systems. At Mutorwa village, the rehabilitated water point operates with only two solar panels, resulting in tanks barely being filled, forcing residents to compete with livestock for water.

The Satotwa North Water Pipeline exemplifies pressure problems. A single 10,000-litre tank serves a school hostel, households, and livestock through just four taps, causing a supply bottleneck. Solar systems show mixed results, with some areas transitioning from petrol pumps to reliable solar systems, while others struggle with solar limitations.

In the Dudu water tank stand in the Kapako Constituency, community members have called for conversion to electricity and installation of booster pumps due to insufficient solar operation. At Sitenda village, incorrect pipe connectors have stalled project completion, and Mile 20 faces delays due to insufficient installation tools, leading to continued hardship.

Population growth has outpaced water infrastructure development across Kavango West, with existing tanks unable to meet communities' needs. Assessments criticize the standard installation of 5,000-litre tanks with two-metre stands, recommending larger capacities and higher stands.

Farm operations, such as those at the Kavango Cattle Ranch, also experience daily challenges from low water pressure. Farm manager Walter Sirongo noted recurring costs from elephants destroying water pipes.

Several schools lack water sources, forcing reliance on community boreholes. This affects not just drinking needs but also ablution facilities, creating health and sanitation challenges for students and teachers.

Despite challenges, some communities like Tcasava-Mpora have found success with properly sized solar systems. Recommendations for improvement include standardizing larger tank capacities, raising tank stands, installing booster pumps, and ensuring proper sizing of solar systems.

Kavango West Regional Chief Statistician, Mika Nzamene, emphasized the importance of water access for the region's development. Reliable water access represents dignity, health, and the foundation for community development, underscoring the need for a coordinated effort to address infrastructure gaps comprehensively.