Residents living on the upper side of Rundu's Satotwa location are unhappy after being without water for three years.

Water supply issues in Rundu have been prevailing for years, and the upper side of Satotwa is no different. 

Locals here often have to make use of the next village to meet their water needs.

The Headman of  Satotwa Village, Timoteus Hausiku, says, "These residents often have to go to Ngwa-Ngwa village to fetch water. Sometimes they go house to house, asking for water.  The residents are now tired of this situation, and they keep asking me for solutions. Constantly going to Ngwa-Ngwa Village to fetch water is becoming unsafe due to the bushy environment." 

Hausiku also claimed that residents had a meeting with constituency and regional councillors, where they were promised boreholes, which are yet to materialise.

"We have lost hope. If nothing is done within this week, even if they call for any community meeting, Satotwa residents will not take part in it."

Augustinus Sigwedha is one of the privileged locals who has access to a water tank at home. 

It is a luxury that many do not have.

"I fetch water from the river because I have a car and three water storage tanks at home. I use the river water for my plants and to bathe. The drinking water I get from my cousin's tap in Kehemu." 

"We have school kids, and sometimes there is no water to wash their clothes. We are pleading with Town Council to please do something because we are suffering, says Satotwa village resident Ndinelao Eino.

The Rundu Town Council CEO, Olavi Nathanael, said Rundu's rapid population growth is putting pressure on the water supply.  

"Rundu is housing 54% of the population. The current treatment plant with NamWater, who is the main supplier, was designed years ago to address water issues for a maximum of 70,000 residents. We are currently sitting at 118,000 people. You can already tell what that says. It's not a matter of not giving water to the people. There is a water shortage."

We asked why the Town Council took time to engage the affected  community.

"We just delayed because of the procurement act, which just delayed the process, but we have managed to do horizontal drilling with two points. One to the side of Sauyemwa and to address.  There is a water shortage also on this side of Sauyemwa, and one is at Satotwa, so last week we have already started to do excavation."

He is now pleading with the residents to remain patient, adding that the water issue should be resolved within a week.