By: Annakleta Haikera
The director of rural Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination in the Kavango West region, Ricardo Sikongo, has expressed his regrets for the hardship faced by residents due to the non-functional boreholes in the area.
In response to the ongoing water crisis, he has encouraged residents not to rely solely on the government but to take an active role in resolving the issue.
Calikawo, a village located 53km inland from Tondoro in the Tondoro Constituency, has been grappling with a water shortage for nearly a month.
The persisting extreme heat in the northern region has had severe consequences, affecting both the local residents and their livestock.
Notably, the borehole in Calikawo remains unrepaired, with an estimated cost of N$3,200 required to fix it.
Sikongo acknowledged the unfortunate delay in conveying the urgency of this matter to the villagers.
“It was not right for us to go there and ask for money, but people in the community must know how to collect contributions for operations, which means if a tape is broken, you don’t expect the government to fix it but the community should have water point associations that must put money together and fix the borehole if it needs to be urgently fixed,” he told The Villager.
He emphasised the need for the community to establish water point associations and collectively contribute the necessary funds for immediate borehole repairs.
“It is not the government’s responsibility to foot the entire bill for repairs; instead, communities should be actively engaged in contributing to maintenance costs,” Shikongo said.
He emphasised the importance of fostering collaboration between the government and the community to address such challenges in the Kavango West region.
He also noted that logistical issues within his office were contributing to the delay in resolving the situation.
Following the tragic loss of six cattle due to dehydration, Calikawo residents have been forced to walk 30 km to access water from an alternative source for themselves and their livestock. While there is a water point in Sava nearby, residents claim that the ministry focused on fixing a cattle trough in another village, despite their pressing needs.
Daniel Ndara, the chairperson of Calikawo residents, highlighted their plea for help and their inability to afford the N$3,200 required for repairs.
He also mentioned that the Ministry initially claimed that Calikawo was not on their list of priority areas.
Residents fear that more livestock will perish due to the strenuous 30 km trek required to fetch water, as their cattle have been weakened by dehydration.
An anonymous extension worker from the Directorate of Rural Water Supply expressed frustration with the ministry’s inconsistent response.
He cited instances where workers were instructed to halt work on pending boreholes to attend to other communities, seemingly based on political pressure rather than a clear protocol.
This situation was raised during the Kavango West regional council’s engagement with community members in early October, where residents voiced their longstanding concern over the lack of consistent water provision in the village.
The water crisis in Calikawo highlights the need for effective collaboration between government agencies and the community to ensure essential services are promptly delivered to those in need.
