Windhoek: Oshana Governor Hofni Iipinge handed over the 15-kilometre Okakwiyu Kashikomboti-Oshilunga shOnkoshi water pipeline to the community of Oshilunga shOnkoshi on Wednesday. During the handover, Iipinge stated that providing access to clean and potable water remains a primary priority for the region.

According to Namibia Press Agency, this follows years of complaints from residents who relied on rain-fed wells that often ran dry, forcing families to use donkey carts to buy water from distant sources like Onaanda village. Iipinge said the situation he encountered during his visit to the community last year was unacceptable and required urgent government action.

'When I came here, I found that our people had been suffering for many years. When these wells ran dry, families were forced to travel to Onaanda village by donkey cart to purchase water, travelling 15 kilometres,' he said. Iipinge said the new system now allows residents to access clean water within minutes of their homes, dramatically improving living conditions.

He added that the initiative was a direct result of community consultations conducted across all 11 constituencies in the region following his appointment in July last year. Iipinge indicated that the government will continue prioritising rural water access to ensure that no communities are left behind. He also emphasised the need for accelerated community development as a means to enhance and restore the community's dignity.

'Wherever we find a situation of this nature, we have to make sure that we attend to it as a matter of urgency,' Iipinge said.