Swakopmund:Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has raised concerns over the ongoing sanitation challenges in Namibia, noting that more than 40% of Namibians still practice open defecation despite improvements in access to safe drinking water.

According to Namibia Press Agency , Ngurare spoke at the third Namibia Regional Water Symposium, emphasizing that the country's achievements in water access should not overshadow the persistent sanitation inequalities, especially in rural areas.

The Prime Minister highlighted that while Namibia has increased household access to water to 91.4% since independence, with rural access at 83.5% and urban access at 98%, sanitation remains a critical development challenge. He urged for urgent and targeted interventions to ensure dignified living conditions for all citizens, stating that the current situation is an affront to human dignity and basic human rights.

Ngurare challenged stakeholders to empathize with communities lacking adequate sanitation facilities by imagining the lack of functioning toilets for a short period. He stressed that decision-makers should understand the difficulties faced by these communities and that deliberate interventions are needed to close the service delivery gaps, particularly in rural areas.

The Prime Minister also noted that the government must ensure access to both safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for everyone, asserting that Namibia has the resources necessary to address these essential needs.