Sewage water is said to be flowing into the hostel kitchen of the Omega Combined School, in the Kavango East Region, whenever the septic tank is full.

Hostel Matron Eveline Masule says the situation poses a serious health hazard.

The hostel had to be closed for several days in October last year, to allow artisans from the Works and Transport ministry to empty the septic tanks.

"They've been coming for four years now, pumping once and then leaving. They know how they connected the system, but this one should be pumped every week. That's what they should do. When they skip a week, the following week is completely full. It's better if they build us a new hostel and a new kitchen. Even when you check this building how it is, it's been a long time since this kitchen has had renovations."

The situation puts students at risk of contracting water-borne diseases, Masule says, adding that the boys' hostel too is overflowing with sewerage. 

Furthermore, they put themselves at risk of attack from wild animals when relieving themselves in the bush when nature calls, given the school's close proximity to the Bwabwata National Park.

The hostel block houses 48 learners.

Reacting to the schools' situation, Mukwe Circuit Education Inspector Theofillus Kadhimo said, "We are aware that it is likely to get full in a week's time, but so far the request that we have put in is for it to be emptied every three months. But I think we are trying this for the first time; maybe we will also try to improve, and maybe eventually we will go to the weekly interval, but if we see that the situation persists, then we need to at least adjust and ensure that they are emptied, and alternatively, we could also construct new septic tanks with a larger capacity because those ones were constructed when the hostel was still small."