The provision of potable water and electricity remains a challenge in Maltahohe and Aranos.

Residents in those areas live in corrugated shelters and share one public- tap.

The residents claimed that one water tap is no more enough as the population has increased in those areas and they have to queue for hours to fetch water.

Some residents including the elderly have to walk a long distance to fetch water from the nearest water point.

Maltahohe resident, Thomas Baile said everything is still not fine with the Blekiesdorp location because their area has no electricity. They have water but the tap is far and they do not have electricity. 

Aranos resident Katrina Velskoen said they have a Build Together house but the problem is that they do not have electricity and they also have water problems."

In his Annual Regional Address, Chairperson of the Hardap Regional Council Gershon Dausab also acknowledged that there are areas, which require improved water infrastructures.

"When we saw the need for water provision, we knew that we do not have the capacity to deal with the drilling of boreholes. I wish that we had an immediate plan because the immediate response is subject to the availability of resources."

Meanwhile, residents in Kalkrand have welcomed the installation of prepaid meters in 195 houses.

Kalkrand resident Jacky Jass Ever said since they got these water meters, it is cheaper than before. They are buying water and after that, they know that they don't have to pay any water bills. Adding that, it is helpful and cheaper for them.

Lack of basic services or slow delivery Dausab says is attributed to insufficient budget allocation to the local and regional authorities.

Hardap Regional Council now plans to establish a company to raise funds to address these challenges.

"We have already written to the Minister to allow the regional council, local authority and traditional authority to have a company which we call the Hardap Development Agency to put their ten cents and twenty cents."
 

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MICT Hardap