Iiyekeya villagers in Omusati's Otamanzi Constituency are calling on the government to urgently address a severe water shortage in their village.

Over the years, the community consumed salty and dirty water from wells that are not fit for human consumption. 
Some of the villagers say they wake up as early as four o'clock in the morning in search of water at community water points, only to return home with empty containers.

The only option then is to ask for water from neighbors or collect money to hire transport to fetch water for them.  

Paulus Shifa says they are now forced to travel 20 to 25 kilometers to fetch water, something that has become costly because they need to pay for water for themselves and for their animals.

Those who cannot afford to pay N$10 per container or travel long distances to fetch water resort to unhygienic-salty water from wells.

The Councillor of Otamanzi, Johannes Iiyambo has acknowledged that there are 12 villages in his constituency facing water shortage.

Six of these were provided with water tanks by government, but this only happens when villagers pay N$240 per trip.

Six more villages are yet to be provided with water tanks once funds become available.