The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform commissioned the construction of the Ogongo-Oshakati pipeline replacement project.
The Ogongo-Oshakati pipeline was constructed in the 70s but is now old and no longer supplies sufficient water to Oshakati's residents and surrounding areas.
The pipeline was the lifeline for Oshakati until 1994 when a new water treatment plant was built at Oshakati, and the Ogongo-Oshakati canal for raw water was also constructed, but it did not yield desired results.
Abraham Nehemia, CEO of Namwater, revealed:
“The pipeline has become imperative due to rapid urbanization and population growth in Oshakati and neighboring areas, increased pressure on aging infrastructure that is no longer adequate to meet demand, and the need to align Namibia's developmental goals with international water quality standards.”
The project is a strategic intervention aimed at addressing the growing demand for potable water, reducing inefficiencies, and ensuring reliable access to water for the communities of Oshana and Omusati.
Agriculture Minister Carl Schlettwein says the project is made possible through the strategic financing of the Namibia Water Sector Support Program—one supported by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW development bank.
“The strategies that we embark on are that we do not like weak links, so we replace the whole infrastructure. It is unearthed and replaced with bigger capacities, more modern technologies, better pipes, better pumps, better elementary systems, and above all, better integration. We are not relying on one source; we are using 2-3 sources or many sources, and therefore we have better resilience in bringing water about.”
Oshana Governor Elia Irimari and his Omusati counterpart Erginus Endjala welcomed the project with these words:
“The office of the regional governor and the regional councilors are currently inundated on a daily basis with complaints from communities about recurring challenges of pipe breaks and reduced water pressure, which hinders supply to areas such as Oshikuku, Uukwangula, and Elim-South. With this project, by replacing over 52 kilometers of pipelines and upgrading key components, there will be a guarantee of a more robust and efficient water supply system.”
“We may fix all the water infrastructure that we have that provides water to human beings, but we still remain with the challenge of how to feed our livestock. Therefore it is critical to start thinking also of the construction of earth dams to contain the little water that we get from the rain.”
or Kap and Bou Informal Settlement.