Residents of Havo Village in the Kavango East Region's Mukwe Constituency have been facing a water crisis since late last year. The situation is affecting both humans and livestock.

The only borehole in the village cannot cater for both humans and livestock, and as a result, animals have started to die.

To save water, the villagers have had to compromise on some of their daily activities.

"If you look at our animals, that is how our animals are suffering. They can stay three days without water the fourth day, then they get water from the human tank. We are sharing one tank with animals in that same tank and people in that same tank. That is how we are suffering."

Another villager added that "the borehole has overworked; it has been here before some of us were born, and that's why the dams don't get full. Back in the days, it used to be fine; tanks supplying cattle and humans used to be filled-to-capacity; we would go about ourselves and still have enough water."

Community members say representatives from the state Rural Water Supply attended to their call and assured them that a new borehole would be drilled once funds become available.

Senior Water and Sanitation Officer Timoteus Kakunyi said, "We attended to that one; all we did at Havo was go and identify a site for a new borehole. We plan to drill a new borehole at Havo, replacing the other one there, so it is receiving attention so far."