Namibia engages Angola overwater supply

The deputy executive director of water affairs in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Elijah Ngurare, says Namibia is in discussions with Angola to tap water from Namacunde to Oshikango.

Angola’s water canal, Namacunde, is situated about 11 kilometres from the Oshikango border post.

Ngurare said this during a discussion with deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at Eenhana on Sunday.

He said the canal would bring water to Oshikango and eventually to the borders of Ohangwena and Kavango West regions.

“We have had preliminary discussions with Angola and they say we will tap into that water to come to Namibia. That water is much closer. These discussions and feasibility studies are ongoing,” he said.

He said the ministry plans to excavate the Etaka canal and another canal from Oshigambo River in Oshikoto to Lake Yinakulu Yomadhiya in Uuvudhiya constituency in Oshana region.

According to Ngurare, the ministry will construct 129 earth dams in //Kharas, Zambezi, Kavango East, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Omusati and Oshana regions during this year.

OHANGWENA AQUIFER
Ngurare added that his ministry has also drilled 11 deep production boreholes in the Ohangwena aquifer and laid reticulated pipelines within a 10-kilometre radius of each borehole. He said the beneficial areas are Omundaungilo, Epembe and Oshikunde.

He said 78 communal water points have been constructed from the 11 deep boreholes.

“Last week, the procurement process started for three more deep boreholes one at Omundaungilo, Oshikunde and one for Epembe. Now these are deep boreholes, which means one can cost N$1,3 million. The one we have constructed at Ohamutwetautende village was about N$2,5 million. It’s not ordinary boreholes – much deeper boreholes. That’s part of the efforts that we are embarking on. There are four deep boreholes currently tapping from Ohangwena supplying Eenhana,” he said.

He said there is also a plan to construct a pipeline from the Ohangwena aquifer to Omutsegonime in Oshikoto region. He said this pipeline will provide water to Eengodi, Okankolo and Nehale lya Mpingana constituencies.

“We will also drill boreholes for some communities to produce food. A number of earth dams will also be rehabilitated,” he added.

Ngurare said the ministry needs to do more in terms of pipe reticulation east of Okongo in Ohangwena region, where there is no water. The pipelines will go up to the borders between Ohangwena and Kavango East.

This week, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian Hidipo Hamata tabled a motion in the National Assembly to discuss the potential, protection and sustainable utilisation of the Ohangwena aquifer.

He said the government should protect Ohangwena’s underground water from illegal activities.

“I, therefore, move that it is of national interest to develop and protect this aquifer against any illegal activities,” he said.
Hamata said underground water will be important in the provision of drinking water as climate change worsens.

“Consequently, a country (or region) with an abundance of water has the potential to attract investment, create massive jobs, and become self-sufficient in food,” he said.

The Ohangwena aquifer is estimated to have stored capacity of about five billion cubic metres – equivalent to the current demand in the north of the country for 400 years.

The aquifer stretches 75km from the Ondobe constituency towards the east, and about 40km towards the Angolan border.