Town Engineer in the Rundu Town Council, Sakaria Shopati, says the institution lost about N$3 million in the 2023–2024 financial year due to vandalism and infrastructure theft.
Shopati says despite the Town Council's attempts to upgrade service infrastructure, the local population is hindering progress.
Vandalism and theft of water borehole equipment such as cylinders and solar panels are rampant in the Ohangwena Region.
This has left some communities without water during this critical time when it is needed most.
Break-ins top the list of the weekend's crime report, including at the Windhoek High Court and the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises.
On Friday, suspects gained entry to the Windhoek High Court at an unknown time with the intention of stealing.
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.
