By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
Urbanisation, agriculture and tourism sectors will drive up water demands in the next eight years, according to an analysis by the World Bank in its Country Private Sector Diagnostic Report 2022.
The country’s water insecurity risks have been highlighted in various sectors, such as the mining sector operation, specifically uranium, which is constantly affected by inadequate water supply so far, highlighting the risk of water insecurity if it prevails.
“Water demand is expected to increase by over 30 per cent by 2030, driven by urbanisation, irrigation for agriculture, and the needs of the tourism sector,” the researchers indicated.
They explained that the country’s water shortages and increasing vulnerability to climate change threaten sustainable economic growth.
Namibia is the driest Sub-Saharan African country and the most vulnerable to climate change shocks.
The World Bank explained that the combined effects of highly variable and low precipitation levels, increasing temperatures and evaporation rates, and water pollution severely threaten economic growth and livelihoods, especially among the poor.
Over 70 per cent of the population depends on the agriculture sector for their livelihood, and 23 per cent of the workforce is employed in agriculture.
According to the World Bank, only about 1 per cent of the country’s 82.4 million ha is under production, and only 0.05 per cent is identified as irrigable.
Since 2008, agriculture’s contribution to GDP has fluctuated substantially between 6.7 and 10.4 per cent because of compounding climatic shocks.
The Bank of Namibia, in its 2022 first quarter Bulletin, indicated that uranium production declined both on a yearly and quarterly basis by 8.2 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, to 1 545 tonnes.
“This was due to water supply challenges experienced which interrupted overall uranium production,” the Bulletin read.
So far, the government has three priority PPP water projects recently announced that signal the government’s commitment to attract private participation.
The Wastewater Direct Reclamation Plant (City of Windhoek), Otjiwarongo Wastewater Treatment Works, and Desalination Water Supply Project can demonstrate the value of private sector involvement and the reduced fiscal burden on the government.
The World Bank experts have also advised the country that meeting the need for financing and private investments in the water sector will require a comprehensive approach.
The approach includes decentralisation, equitable tariff policy, and technical innovation.
When it comes to the water sector in the country, it is, however, monopolised by the state through Namwater, with few players at a low scale.
The World Bank has highlighted that the “private sector is well placed to help develop approaches for innovative water solutions such as desalination”.
Progress on these fronts will require addressing the concern that private participation will increase the cost of water, a social good, and adversely affect access to water, especially for the poor.
During the budget motivation this year, water affairs minister Calle Schlettwein indicated that the allocated budget for this financial year will not be adequate to implement the envisaged programmes and projects.
He asked the National Assembly to approve a budget allocated to the water programme of the ministry with an amount of N$687.4 million, which represents about 0.89 per cent of the total appropriated expenditure.
Schlettwein said the allocated budget needs to be supplemented with extra-budgetary resources.
“We are, therefore, continuing to engage with our development partners and the finance ministry on how best to achieve these objectives,” he said.
Equally, Schlettwein said the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change and variability pose challenges to the implementation of this programme.
Schlettwein explained the country has managed to record some progress regarding water access, especially in rural water communities that are usually hard-hit.
He announced that the African Development Bank (AfDB)-funded Namibia Water Sector Support Programme (NWSSP) is geared to disburse over N$300 million during 2022/23.
This involves developing the Ohangwena II aquifer and upgrading the water supply networks countrywide.
Additionally, the ministry, through the technical committee of experts for the Cabinet Committee on water supply security, will continue with the implementation of measures aimed at addressing water supply security in the country. Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na
