Oshikoto: The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform plans to modernise traditional wells in the Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions, starting at the end of this month.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the ministry’s head of rural water supply, Stevenson Tuukondjele, indicated in an interview that the ministry is currently busy with the procurement of the necessary materials such as cement, concrete, bricks, solar pumps, solar panels, and other accessories to modernise the traditional wells. “We are trying to prevent deaths by making the wells look like boreholes,” Tuukondjele said, noting that once modernised, the wells will no longer require excavation by locals.

Tuukondjele explained that the modernisation process will involve constructing the wells in a manner that minimizes risk and installing solar-powered pumps. This approach has already proven successful in the Kavango West and Omusati regions. “We are busy trying to motivate our ministry to speed up the procurement process as the rainy season
is approaching and we need to harvest rainwater in these wells,” he added.

The ministry is focusing on villages most affected by water challenges, targeting areas like Okankolo, Eengodi, and Nehale Lyampingana constituencies in the Oshikoto Region. Additionally, a contract has been awarded to drill seven boreholes in the Oshikoto Region, with work set to begin soon. “We are continuing with drilling boreholes in Oshikoto as we just awarded seven boreholes to be drilled by a new contractor while we are waiting for the desalination plant to be installed in the previously drilled boreholes,” Tuukondjele mentioned.

Efforts are also being made to deliver water to schools and health facilities using water tanker trucks, ensuring essential services remain operational during the modernisation process.