People living in the informal settlements of Otavi in the Otjozondjupa Region will be paying a little less for water once the water infrastructure is up in September this year.
The project of setting up the infrastructure, which is funded by B2 Gold Mine, has already commenced.
The 2024 National Household Income and Expenditure Survey results indicate that Otavi's population has grown by 70% over the past 12 years.
The town now has over 10,000 inhabitants, of whom 60% are living in informal settlements.
The inhabitants use prepaid water tokens to get water from community taps, spending N$22.79 per cubic metre.
"The council resolved to reduce the water tariffs to the people by N$1.50 per cubic to the people living in the informal settlements; that one is now not documented in the MoU, but it's a council resolution that the moment that the infrastructure is up and water is being pumped from that borehole, the council will go to its tariffs and have that tariff and have it reduced," explained Otavi Town Council CEO, Wobido Haulofu.
Once the water infrastructure is completed, the Town Council will embark on urban agriculture.
"Seeing that Otavi is at the heart of rainfall in the country, this triangle—Otavi, Grootfontein, and Tsumeb—is where the country receives the most rainfall, so the council wants to activate the Otavi Food System."
Haulofu says discussions are underway with B2Gold and the World Food Programme, while the Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies is already on board.
B2Gold Mine signed an agreement with the Otavi Town Council to set up the water infrastructure for N$7.5 million.
"And this is also being done. I want to thank the consulting engineers. I think so far we have seen them do wonderful work. I have attended one or two meetings previously. I have seen the capabilities of this team, and I do look forward to a successfully constructed infrastructure and not a white elephant," said B2 Gold's Manager for Corporate Social Investment, Ignasius |Awaseb.
The Ministry of Rural and Urban Development has contributed N$2.5 million towards the water infrastructure.
Once completed, the water infrastructure will consist of a borehole and a water tank and will reduce Namwater's supply to the residents by 30%.