AT the beginning of this month, the German Embassy together with the local NGO Maltahöhe Common Waters Organisation signed a grant agreement to finance the rehabilitation of existing boreholes in the area of Maltahöhe in the Hardap Region.

A total of N$ 832,000 (approx. 49,500. EUR) will be made available for the refurbishing of 12 boreholes that were identified by the organisation.

The allocated funds are a combination of resources from the micro project fund of the German Embassy Windhoek, together with additional Covid-19 immediate relief funds of the German Government.

Dr. Andreas Götze, the Deputy Head of the German Embassy stated that since many communities in the traditional Nama area in the South of the country are still struggling with the aftermath of the pandemic, this project will serve entire communities with much needed water supply.

“It will help the community members, especially with upholding their farming, which means the people no longer have to drive the cattle miles from their homestead to find water. It can even serve as possibility for gardening and thus provide a more diverse diet for the local people. The rehabilitation of the boreholes with solar technology means that each water point will be fitted with a solar water pump and panels, as well as tanks and pipes for drinking water supply for humans and animals” Dr. Götze said.

In addition to refurbishing the boreholes, each water point will set up a so called “water point committee”, which will provide training and education as a “skills transfer” to the users of the water posts.

The training will also entail a financial literacy module to encourage the setup of financial reserves with small personal contributions by the community members. These “water cent concepts” which can be used to secure later repairs, if necessary, will certainly strengthen the commitment of each beneficiary towards the maintenance of the respective boreholes.

The commitment of the organisation together with the community members is unmatched. After less than two weeks of the initial disbursement, the first borehole was repaired and updated and is fully functioning. The community of Farm Kleinfontein, about 70 km southwest of Maltahöhe, is the first beneficiary and delighted to finally have a functioning water supply on the farm.

“For 22 years we always had too little water for our life here on the farm. Sometimes we couldn’t even give water to the animals every day and they suffered a lot and were unproductive. Now we finally have water and can live a safe and happy life without the constant worry and the miles of hiking to the neighbours for water. It has always been an issue and lately we would have many disputes about it. Now we have our own water.” Titus Frederick, a community member of the Kleinfontein water post stated.

Newsdesk Email: news@informante.web.na