The University of Namibia (UNAM) says the construction of a wastewater treatment facility at the Katima Mulilo campus will help address long-standing sewage challenges at the campus while promoting research and innovation.

Speaking at a workshop on the project, UNAM Vice Chancellor Professor Kenneth Matengu said Katima Mulilo's ageing sewage infrastructure has been under severe pressure due to population growth.

Many of the town's sewage pipes date back to the 1930s and were originally designed to serve a population of about 5,000 people, which has since grown to over 46,000 residents.

This has placed significant strain on the system, resulting in frequent sewage spillages around the town, which also affect the campus.

"We have a concentration of overpopulation, and the sewage situation in the town was becoming a health hazard at our campus; at some point I was actually considering closing the campus because the sewage was all over. Therefore, we were very pleased that KfW was able to respond to this; the treatment plant that we are workshopping today is going to also serve not just the University of Namibia but also the Zambezi Vocational Training Centre."

Matengu says the facility will not only support wastewater treatment and water reuse within the campus but will also serve as a hub for research, innovation and training, with staff and students from the university and vocational centre expected to play a part in the training and research aspects of the project.

The project is valued at approximately N$50 million, with financial support from the German government and contributions from the university, and construction is set to commence at the end of this year.