Omatjete: Residents of Omatjete in the Daures Constituency say a long-standing water crisis that constrained both households and farming activities has been largely resolved following the commissioning of the N.dollars 29 million Ozondati-Omatjete pipeline last year.
According to Namibia Press Agency, community leaders are now calling for continued investment to assist neighbouring settlements that continue to struggle with water supply. The first 23-kilometre phase of the pipeline was completed before the final eight-kilometre stretch into Omatjete was finalised, connecting the settlement to a reliable water source for the first time in years.
Senior councillor of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority, Fabianus Uaseuapuani, told Nampa in an interview that the project has transformed daily life in the area after years of unreliable access to water. Uaseuapuani highlighted that the improved supply also benefits livestock owners, who previously struggled to secure water for their animals.
It has also mitigated livestock losses linked to recent drought conditions and created opportunities for household gardens and small-scale agricultural projects, in line with national food security objectives. Uaseuapuani mentioned that discussions are already underway to further expand capacity, including plans for a larger reservoir to accommodate anticipated growth in the settlement.
Despite the gains in Omatjete, access to water remains uneven across the wider Daures Constituency. In neighbouring Okombahe, residents said improved rainfall over the past two years has eased pressure on the settlement's single water source. However, supply remains inconsistent for households situated on higher ground, with interruptions linked to power outages affecting the pumping system.
Community members said Okombahe's water infrastructure relies on a single pump station, leaving residents vulnerable whenever electricity supply is disrupted. This has also affected backyard gardening projects introduced in the settlement in recent years.
Erongo Governor, Natalia |Goagoses, who took office in July 2025, identified water security as an urgent regional priority during her inaugural State of the Region Address last year. She committed budget allocations for water infrastructure projects across the region, including the Ozondati-Omatjete pipeline and discussions on a desalination project for the coast.
|Goagoses is expected to deliver her second State of the Region Address in Swakopmund on Wednesday, with residents across the constituency expressing hope that continued investment in water infrastructure will feature prominently in her address. Uaseuapuani emphasized that community unity remains central to translating government investment into tangible results on the ground, stating, 'Development is not only about what government does. Communities must organise themselves, identify opportunities and participate in creating solutions.'