Villagers of Oikokola in the Tsandi Constituency in the Omusati Region still depend on salty and unpurified water from wells, which they have been drinking from since independence.

They have called on the government to accelerate the provision of clean drinking water to the village.

As per the saying, "the early bird catches the worm," the residents of Oikokola village start scouting for water at the wells or at some water points as soon as the sun rises.

However, it is not every day that a family gets lucky, and they sometimes might go back home without finding water.

At Talihepekenge water point, villagers were informed that water would be ferried there, but to their surprise, the taps were dry.

Water is only ferried when each household pays N$20 at the NamWater offices in Okahao.

"The water takes so long to arrive at this village; we wait up to three months, and this forces us to look for transport to purchase water at Okahao," said Joseph Shikongo, adding that the paying and waiting process of the delivery of water is stressful because the truck is often not in a working condition.

At Ondjamba Yahongo water point, the villagers were joyful as the water had arrived.

However, each household is only entitled to three water containers to cater for all.

"We did not receive water for about five months, and the situation forced us to look for water at Tsandi, we have a critical water shortage here," said Josefine Kafo.

We came across villagers rehabilitating a well at Okatale who informed our news team that digging or restoring a well is a risky exercise.

They said last year three people died as a result and want the government to at least drill boreholes for them.

Water from water points in different areas does not, however, reach everyone due to low pressure.