Ganja:Onyuva Residents of Onyuva village in the Epupa Constituency of the Kunene Region have appealed to the government to address persistent water shortages that have forced them to rely on traditionally dug wells for household consumption and livestock. The community has relied on these wells for the past 18 years, as the only borehole in the village supplies water too slowly to meet their daily needs.

According to NAMPA, Chairperson of the Otjikakuru Kouye Traditional Authority in Onyuva, Kautjiukua Tjivinda, spoke about the challenges faced by the villagers during a stakeholder operation held from November 1 to 8, 2026. He highlighted that residents use basic tools such as hammers and spades to dig wells to supplement the inadequate water supply.

Tjivinda explained that water availability in the wells depends largely on rainfall, with water levels dropping during dry periods and improving when it rains. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, expressing the community's desire for government intervention to ensure adequate water access.

Kunene Governor Vipuakuje Muharukua acknowledged these concerns and assured that regional leadership is working to address the water challenges affecting residents. He noted the essential role of water for human survival, livestock, and vegetation, and the impact of inadequate water infrastructure on livestock farmers' productivity.

Chief Agricultural Scientific Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform in Kunene, Charlie Mwaetako, pointed out that improving the existing water infrastructure could enhance water supply. He suggested that additional pumping equipment could enable farmers to water their livestock more efficiently, benefiting residents, livestock, and vegetation in the area.