Government completes N$60 million water pipeline in Omusati

THE government has completed the construction of a water pipeline between Oshuukwa and Okeeholongo in the Omusati region’s Okahao constituency at a cost of N$ 60 million during the previous financial year.

Omusati region governor Erginus Endjala said this while delivering his well-attended 2019 state of the region address at Outapi on Friday.

Inhabitants from all over the region packed the Omusati Regional Council hall to capacity to listen to Endjala’s address, which highlighted development activities carried out throughout the region during the 2018/19 financial year.

The 65-kilometre Oshuukwa (Iitapa)-Okeeholongo water pipeline, which is one of the longest pipelines in the region, supplies water to the villages of Otoongo, Okakoto, Iitapa and Onambandje in an area that has previously experienced serious water scarcity.

The project, Endjala added, also provided water meters free of charge to about 1 000 households in its vicinity.

However, Endjala told those present he was disturbed to learn that some people were reportedly vandalising the infrastructure of an elevated solar pump station constructed at Okatumba in the Otamanzi constituency for a 53-kilometre water supply pipeline to serve the community of the Amarika area.

“Vandalism and their illegal connections on this pipeline hinder progress of the project,” Endjala said, calling on members of the community to refrain from damaging government infrastructure.

He also expressed concern that the crime rate has increased in Omusati, as it has already recorded 3 884 criminal cases this year, compared to 3 392 last year.

These crimes include murder, rape, stock theft, housebreaking and assaults, said Endjala. – Nampa