Residents of Etsha 1 village in the Okavango district have pleaded for improved water supply in their area to address the chronic water shortages they are faced with. This as the village’s main source is currently not producing enough to meet the demand of the village.
This surfaced during a kgotla meeting addressed by the Okavango District Council Chairperson Gaopalelwe Ronald’s in Etsha 1 recently.
The population growth of Etsha 1 residents has led to the shortage of water as the supply is not able to meet the demand anymore. The water shortage has left the community in a dire situation as they have fewer water supplies, which negatively affects their daily lives, sanitation and general hygiene.
The residents have therefore pleaded for more public taps which residents will be getting water from or be provided with a larger water tank. When speaking at the kgotla meeting, the Village Development Community (VDC) Deputy Secretary, Selinah Gende stated that the situation has caused a great concern as there is not much water supply therefore pleaded for standpipe extensions and 4 other public stand pipes.
However, the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) Gumare General Manager responsible for Okavango, David Moroka explained that there aren’t enough funds to purchase a bigger water tank for the residents. “The amount that was set aside to cater for the larger tank was P1 Million however these tanks are now very expensive and for us to acquire one we would need around P2.5illion or above.
Meanwhile residents also pleaded for the gravel road to Etsha 1 to be maintained so that it becomes easier to use it as it is now in a very bad state.
For his part, Okavango District Council Chairperson Ronald said he will work hard to ensure that they come up with another solution together with WUC to better the water Situation in the area. Moreover, Ronald strongly urged the Etsha 1 residents to avoid fronting for other companies when it comes to tendering processes. He added that some locals register tendering companies and then hand them to non locals for operation then they later complain again that tenders are given to non-locals only.
He explained that Council is only responsible for only those people who it has signed contracts with and not third parties. “Therefore, if the third party does not treat employee well, council then cannot assist as they have not signed contracts with them.”
