The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has expressed concern about the theft and vandalism of equipment used to monitor floods at its satellite stations along the Cuvelai Basin in the Omusati and Ohangwena regions.

The issue was initially raised by Agriculture Minister Carl Schlettwein, who on social media last week stated that several pieces of equipment at flood monitoring stations had been stolen or vandalized.

He added that such theft and vandalism cannot be tolerated as it directly harms communities that bear the risk of flood damage.

The ministry's public relations officer, Jona Musheko in an interview with Nampa on Thursday said there are 26 flood monitoring stations along the Cuvelai Basin, of which seven are not operational.

The ministry uses satellites to map out the extent of the floods, while the onsite equipment at the stations measures the depths of the floods.

Musheko noted that new equipment for a single flood monitoring station similar to the one at Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West Region would cost the ministry no less 2 million dollars to purchase and install.

For now, he says, the ministry is involving community leaders to make them understand the purpose of these stations, and for them to help keep them safe.