By Kaundjire Humbu
Erongo regional governor Nathalia /Goagoses has intervened in a nearly two-decade dispute over water access at Otjikaru area at the Omatjete village after Confidente brought residents’ concerns to her office, prompting an immediate investigation and mediation process with the Erongo Regional Council.
The intervention follows questions and queries by Confidente after villagers approached the newspaper claiming they had endured water challenges for nearly 20 years.
Residents further warned that unless authorities intervened, they would take matters into their own hands to secure access to water.
According to the villagers the matter has resulted in physical altercations involving firearms.
They further told Confidente that five homesteads resettled at Otjikaru have struggled to access reliable water for between 15 and 20 years.
They said the village remains divided by an apartheid-era ordinal fence, with one section (also named Otjikaru) having access to water infrastructure while the newer settlement was left without a direct supply.
According to the villages attempts to get water from Otjikaru has resulted in fierce confrontations and altercations as they and their livestock were refused access to water sources, mainly because of the tribal barrier.
“They claim they are not part of Omatjete but part of Okombahe and hence they can never share their water with us,” one villager said on condition of anonymity.
“They once pulled guns out on us, just because we speak a different language from theirs but water knows no language or tribe, it is a national resources belonging to all Namibians.”
The villagers also claimed that those on the side of the fence with water, at one stage forced them to buy 20-litre containers of water for N$20 each, adding that this cost was unaffordable because the same water had to be shared with their livestock.
According to the residents, they opted to seek assistance from another village called Omboora and had to walk approximately 2.5 kilometres for more than a decade to collect water for domestic and livestock use.
They noted that they repeatedly raised the matter with the traditional councilors under the Zeraeua Royal House, the Daures constituency Inecia Theresia Brandt, the Erongo Regional Council as well as the water office in Karibib, but to not avail.
They further allege that they opted to extend water pipes from Omboora to their homesteads but were informed to pay an amount of N$2,500 per household.
“This is expensive because most these households are manned by pensioners and the vulnerable. Where will they get that money from?”
Responding to Confidente, /Goagoses said she had not been aware of the matter but acted immediately once the concerns reached her office.
“I was not aware of this challenge, however upon receiving the concerns regarding water supply in Otjikaru through your communication, my Office, in collaboration with the Erongo Regional Council (ERC) acted immediately to address the matter. We engaged with members of the affected community to obtain a better understanding of the challenges they are experiencing,” /Goagoses said.
According to /Goagoses, the investigation found that the four households referred to in the complaint relocated to Otjikaru between 2013 and 2014 from Omboora, about 2.5 kilometres away.
She said the community borehole at the centre of the dispute is situated approximately 400 metres from the affected households.
“The allegation that some house-holds in Otjikaru have no access to water is incorrect as there is a community borehole within their reach. My office sought further clarification on the purported allegation and has found that the reported N$2,500 charge for the connection of the pipeline to one of the residents was a misquoted statement,” she added.
“The amount relates to his personal intentionto install a private pipeline connection from the Omboora water point to his residence, which is approximately 2.5 km away, thus not a fee imposed for access to the existing Otjikaru borehole as alleged,” she said.
While addressing the concerns, /Goagoses stressed that water security remains one of Erongo’s biggest development priorities.
“Access to clean and safe water is a basic human right and a fundamental enabler of economic growth, livelihoods and sustainable rural development,” she said.
She added: “As Governor, one of my foremost priorities is to unlock the economic and development potential of our rural communities.
Access to reliable water remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the Erongo Region and is undoubtedly a significant factor contributing to the migration of people from rural areas to urban centres in search of better opportunities and basic services.”
The governor said her office continues to champion collaborative solutions through the Erongo Water Forum.
“I therefore continue to advocate without hesitation for an inclusive and collaborative approach to water security in the Erongo Region. Water supply is a shared responsibility that requires the collective expertise and commitment of all stakeholders, government institutions, technical experts, the private sector, communities and development partners,” she said.
Responding to Confidente, traditional councilor Kahito Kariko of the Zeraeua Royal House responsible for Otjikaru, confirmed knowledge of the longstanding tensions over water in the area and said the historical apartheid-era demarcation of the village had contributed to divisions among residents.
He also confirmed that the conflict between the villagers stem pre-dominantly from tribal differences.
“I dislike and object to tribalism. Let’s work together as one nation,” Kariko said.
He however, denied knowledge of allegations that residents were asked to pay N$2,500 for water pipes and urged affected villagers to submit documented complaints through the appropriate channels.
Meanwhile, Hivirikee Uaseuapuani a senior traditional councilor of the same royal house responsible for the Omatjete village noted that the matter resorts under the Okombahe leadership while maintaining the matter has never reached his desk.
On her part, Brandt, also denied any knowledge the 20-year dispute.
