46 communal water pumps stolen

VILLAGERS and animals in Ohangwena, Kavango West and Kavango East regions have been left thirsty after 46 communal pumps were stolen from the regions.

The griculture ministry’s spokesperson, Jona Musheko, told The Namibian that three water pumps were stolen at Okongo and Oshikunde constituencies in Ohangwena region last week.

He said a further 43 water pumps valued at N$1,9 million were stolen from Kavango East and West regions – 25 of them from Kavango West and 18 from Kavango East.

Musheko said the affected constituencies in Kavango West regions are: Ncuncini, Kapako, Ncamangoro and Mpungu. In the Kavango East region, the affected constituencies are: Mashare, Ndonga-Linena, Ndiyona, Rundu Rural and Mukwe.

He said the pumps were installed between 2020 and this year.

Musheko said although people steal the water pumps, the ministry keeps replacing them. The Namibian Sun two weeks ago quoted Kavango West regional governor Sirkka Ausiku, as saying, in her recent state of the region address, more villages were left without water provision again due to the theft of pumps.

Okongo constituency councillor Lebeus Shipindo told The Namibian yesterday that three villages in his constituency have been left without water.

“I want to warn the culprits that they should be careful, as we have the capacity to bring them to book. I also want to urge our people that they should form committees to look after their boreholes,” he said.

Last year, The Namibian reported that 6 000 people from Kavango West region were left thirsty after their water pumps were stolen.

At the time, agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein labelled the theft of water pumps as criminal. “Law enforcement must improve,” the minister posted on his social media page.