Mariental rebuilding after devastating floods

DRIVING past Mariental almost seven weeks after what has been labelled the worst floods there in living memory, things slowly seem to be getting back to normal in the capital of the South.

For the most part, garden walls around houses still lie where the raging water from the Hardap Dam flattened them. It is still possible to see the level at which the water stood in the flood-stricken area by looking at the walls of some businesses.But at the same time, the town is hard at work repairing itself – with uniformed men digging holes and placing poles, while others are mixing cement to rebuild security walls destroyed by the February floods.In the Hardap Farming Scheme, farm workers are replacing fences and making a new start amid flattened maize crops.The insurance industry last month reported losses in excess of N$80 million at the town, and because February’s floods were the second in four years, it has stated that it will have to discuss a way forward in case something similar happens in the future.FUTURE LOSSES Gerson Katjimune, Managing Director of Mutual and Federal, said yesterday that the industry would meet within the next two weeks to discuss how best to deal with future losses in the area.He added that clients’ premiums had not been raised since the 2000 flood, but that this could change in the future, based on research.He also said that some of the more complicated claims had not been paid out yet.One shop still closed because of this reason is the Mariental Spar, owned by Jan De Lange.De Lange says he doubts whether the shop will be up and running before the end of July, although he would like to see a miracle.Right now, he says, he’s just working for all his insurance claims to be approved and paid out, after which he’ll have to order tiles and other materials.At the moment, his employees have been divided into two teams, with one being sent on leave while the other reports for duty, and then switching.”No, we’re not letting anyone go,” he said when asked whether anyone would be retrenched.”Right now everyone’s reporting for work, and we see if we can find work for them.”He added that only the administrative section of the shop was operational at present.ORGANISING THE REBUILDING In March, President Hifikepunye Pohamba ordered the release of N$10 million from the State’s contingency fund to alleviate the impact of the flood’s damage.”The funds stay in the Office of the Prime Minister,” Nghiwilepo said this week, explaining how these funds are being dealt with.”We get at least three quotations for whatever we need done, and submit it to them with suggestions, and payment is made from there,” he said.He added that the municipality had identified street repairs as the first priority, while the Hardap Farming Scheme surrounding Mariental also has its own priority list.As far as taking responsibility for the dam levels go, Nghiwilepo says that the council and the farmers in the Hardap Farming Scheme are generally of the opinion that NamWater should be allowed to decide on the dam’s level on its own.At present, NamWater discusses the level with various stakeholders, including the council and the farmers.”There’s always a disagreement between the farmers and the townspeople,” Nghiwilepo said.”The town wants it at to be kept at around 70 per cent to avoid possible flooding, but then the farmers would like to keep it at around 80 per cent so that there would still be enough water for irrigation in case of no rain.”NamWater Public Relations Officer Johannes Shigwedha agreed yesterday that the farmers and the townspeople had different concerns, but said no formal decision had been taken on whether NamWater would be held solely responsible for the dam level in the future.Nghiwilepo said most of the 2 000 people displaced by the flood have returned to their homes, and that the water and sanitation situation at the town has returned to normal.The cut-off date for supplying relief food has been set for April 12, he said.It is still possible to see the level at which the water stood in the flood-stricken area by looking at the walls of some businesses.But at the same time, the town is hard at work repairing itself – with uniformed men digging holes and placing poles, while others are mixing cement to rebuild security walls destroyed by the February floods.In the Hardap Farming Scheme, farm workers are replacing fences and making a new start amid flattened maize crops.The insurance industry last month reported losses in excess of N$80 million at the town, and because February’s floods were the second in four years, it has stated that it will have to discuss a way forward in case something similar happens in the future.FUTURE LOSSES Gerson Katjimune, Managing Director of Mutual and Federal, said yesterday that the industry would meet within the next two weeks to discuss how best to deal with future losses in the area.He added that clients’ premiums had not been raised since the 2000 flood, but that this could change in the future, based on research.He also said that some of the more complicated claims had not been paid out yet.One shop still closed because of this reason is the Mariental Spar, owned by Jan De Lange.De Lange says he doubts whether the shop will be up and running before the end of July, although he would like to see a miracle.Right now, he says, he’s just working for all his insurance claims to be approved and paid out, after which he’ll have to order tiles and other materials.At the moment, his employees have been divided into two teams, with one being sent on leave while the other reports for duty, and then switching.”No, we’re not letting anyone go,” he said when asked whether anyone would be retrenched.”Right now everyone’s reporting for work, and we see if we can find work for them.”He added that only the administrative section of the shop was operational at present.ORGANISING THE REBUILDING In March, President Hifikepunye Pohamba ordered the release of N$10 million from the State’s contingency fund to alleviate the impact of the flood’s damage.”The funds stay in the Office of the Prime Minister,” Nghiwilepo said this week, explaining how these funds are being dealt with. “We get at least three quotations for whatever we need done, and submit it to them with suggestions, and payment is made from there,” he said.He added that the municipality had identified street repairs as the first priority, while the Hardap Farming Scheme surrounding Mariental also has its own priority list.As far as taking responsibility for the dam levels go, Nghiwilepo says that the council and the farmers in the Hardap Farming Scheme are generally of the opinion that NamWater should be allowed to decide on the dam’s level on its own.At present, NamWater discusses the level with various stakeholders, including the council and the farmers.”There’s always a disagreement between the farmers and the townspeople,” Nghiwilepo said.”The town wants it at to be kept at around 70 per cent to avoid possible flooding, but then the farmers would like to keep it at around 80 per cent so that there would still be enough water for irrigation in case of no rain.”NamWater Public Relations Officer Johannes Shigwedha agreed yesterday that the farmers and the townspeople had different concerns, but said no formal decision had been taken on whether NamWater would be held solely responsible for the dam level in the future. Nghiwilepo said most of the 2 000 people displaced by the flood have returned to their homes, and that the water and sanitation situation at the town has returned to normal.The cut-off date for supplying relief food has been set for April 12, he said.