Ohangwena Ohandjombali Water Crisis Namibia: Residents Face Annual Scarcity

• Ohandjombali village in Namibia's Ohangwena region has been without running water since June, an annual crisis.
• Residents must travel 20km to Eenhana to purchase water, incurring significant financial and personal costs.
• The village headman reported the issue to Councillor Fransina Kashikola in July, but the situation remains unresolved.
• Councillor Kashikola confirmed the shortage and informed the rural water supply division, which promised truck deliveries.
• The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the crisis.

This ongoing crisis presents a potential basis for public interest litigation or administrative law challenges against the Namibian government concerning its duty to ensure access to basic services, particularly the constitutional right to water for rural communities.

Residents of Ohandjombali village, situated in Namibia's Ohangwena region, have endured a severe lack of running water since June, a recurring annual challenge that forces them to seek costly alternatives. The community is compelled to travel approximately 20 kilometers to Eenhana, located within the Omundaungilo constituency, to purchase water. This arduous journey, costing N$50 for a round trip, often involves transporting three to four 20-liter containers to secure enough water for a week, a burden many cannot afford.

The financial strain is compounded by the high cost of water itself, with a 20-liter container priced at N$2, sometimes N$3. Due to the absence of personal vehicles, families are limited in the amount of water they can carry, leading to profound impacts on daily life. Children frequently attend school without having bathed or with no lunchboxes, as families conserve their meager water supplies. The scarcity also means that children and elders sometimes go to bed hungry because there is insufficient water for cooking.

While some residents resort to drawing water from wells, these sources are also prone to drying up, especially as animals share them. Simeon Shihepo, a local resident, highlighted that households pay N$5 weekly for a truck to deliver water, with one truckload costing N$300. However, this quantity is often insufficient to sustain a single family for a week. The annual nature of the Ohangwena Ohandjombali water crisis has led to residents adopting drastic measures, such as washing all blankets and clothes before June each year, anticipating the prolonged dry spell.

The dire situation in Ohandjombali has been officially acknowledged by village headman Jacob Shetuhanga, who confirmed the ongoing crisis. The matter was formally reported to constituency councillor Fransina Kashikola in July, yet the community continues to await a resolution. Headman Shetuhanga has publicly appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform to intervene by providing boreholes, emphasizing that the lack of water for cooking contributes to residents going to bed hungry.

Councillor Kashikola has corroborated the water shortage, confirming that Ohandjombali residents brought the issue to her attention. She stated that she informed the region's rural water supply division last week and is awaiting action from officials. The councillor also indicated that she had spoken with the rural water supply, which committed to delivering water via trucks. Despite the village possessing a water pipeline, it has been non-operational due to low water pressure, exacerbating the Ohandjombali water access challenges. Notably, Kashikola mentioned that no other village within her constituency has reported similar water supply problems.

In an effort to mitigate the crisis, residents currently contribute N$20 per household monthly to cover the fuel costs for a water truck delivering a container of water to the village. As of the latest reports, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the persistent water scarcity in Ohandjombali.

The prolonged water shortage in Ohandjombali raises significant questions regarding the Namibian government's obligations, particularly concerning the Namibia right to water. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform holds a crucial mandate in ensuring water supply, making the headman's call for boreholes a direct appeal to its responsibilities. The fact that the crisis has persisted since June, and is an annual occurrence, suggests a systemic failure in rural water service delivery Namibia.

The councillor's engagement with the rural water supply division and the promise of truck deliveries, while a temporary measure, underscores the immediate need for state intervention. However, the non-response from the Ministry of Agriculture to questions about the situation highlights a potential gap in accountability. Furthermore, the community's financial contribution of N$20 per household monthly for truck fuel indicates that residents are bearing costs that arguably fall under the purview of essential public services, especially given the constitutional right to water.

This ongoing crisis presents a potential basis for public interest litigation or administrative law challenges against the Namibian government concerning its duty to ensure access to basic services, particularly the constitutional right to water for rural communities. The severe impact on daily life, health, and education in Ohandjombali could serve as a compelling case for judicial review of the state's performance in upholding fundamental rights.

This ongoing crisis presents a potential basis for public interest litigation or administrative law challenges against the Namibian government concerning its duty to ensure access to basic services, particularly the constitutional right to water for rural communities.

Source: Original reporting via The Namibian