The Okawambi residents in the Omuthiya constituency of Oshikoto Region have taken the initiative of digging a pond to harvest rainwater amid water scarcity.

For the past two weeks, Okawambi residents have been working together to dig the pond.

One of the residents, Selma Nangolo, said the community could not afford to wait for assistance from outside.

“We want it to become a dam in the future to accommodate more residents; we are greatly relying on the rainwater until November. This pond can assist residents without taps to fetch water; the councillor can provide us with disinfectants to clear the bacteria. The villages in the surrounding areas can bring their livestock to drink here as well. There was an earth dam before it dried up; hence, we are reviving it.”

The initiative has also been welcomed by Oshikoto Governor Sacky Kathindi, who said his office has been working to mobilise funds to address water scarcity across the region.

Kathindi stated that he instructed constituency councillors to identify water ponds and earth dams that could be revived to improve access to water.

“You can see that the community has started digging on their own. For now, I have instructed the councillor to ensure that he sources quotations from the community and local business people who have the equipment to dig and revive this pond.”

They are also working on a project to revive and modernize traditional wells.

During his State of the Region Address two months ago, Kathindi announced that his office had mobilised N$6.4 million from the Environmental Investment Fund to address immediate water challenges.