By: Annakleta Haikera
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform (MAFWLR) has intensified efforts to improve water access across Namibia, confirming the activation of 75 boreholes as part of a nationwide push to address persistent water shortages.
Agriculture Minister Ingenesia Zaamwani, speaking during the inauguration of the Ohangwena II Wellfield Water Supply Scheme on 13 November 2025, said the intervention is a step towards improving rural water security and protecting communities that remain dependent on unsafe river sources.
Following the minister’s announcement, MAFWLR spokesperson Simon Nghipandulwa provided further details, sharing that the accelerated rollout aims to reduce the risks communities face daily due to limited access to safe water.
Nghipandulwa said emergency installations such as the one underway at Thipanana Village in the Mukwe Constituency are critical for saving lives in areas where residents rely on rivers known for crocodile attacks and contamination.
“The installation of this borehole will bring immediate relief, especially in places where lack of safe water has put lives at risk,” he said.
Nghipandulwa confirmed that the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination (DWSSC) has deployed technical teams nationwide to speed up both drilling and installation.
“At Thipanana Village, the borehole drilled on 15 August 2025 is now in the installation phase, with tank stands and concrete works being completed before commissioning,” he added.
He also highlighted that across the country, two ministerial drilling teams remain active. Team A is currently operating in Kunene and Omusati, with six boreholes underway. One successful borehole has already been completed at Okahungu.
Team B is mobilising in the Oshikoto Region, where drilling at Elavi Village is scheduled to begin on 28 November 2025.
According to Nghipandulwa, installation teams are also progressing in multiple regions. In Kavango East, an in-house team is working at Thipapama Village, while in Kunene, contractors have completed installations at five locations, including Okaoko-Otavi and Warmquelle.
“Furthermore, progress has been recorded under the 2025/2026 outsourced drilling programme, with completed boreholes in Kavango East, Kavango West, Erongo, ǁKharas, Khomas and Oshikoto,” indicated Nghipandulwa.
“Six more boreholes across Omaheke, Hardap, Erongo, and Otjozondjupa are scheduled for completion before the end of the current financial year,” he noted.
Nghipandulwa also stated that 17 earth dams are under construction across thirteen regions.
He said the nationwide activations fall under a broader strategy to strengthen rural water provision, reduce reliance on hazardous water points, and ensure long-term water security for all Namibian communities.
“These interventions are necessary to safeguard lives and improve access to safe, potable water,” Nghipandulwa said, adding that the government remains committed to addressing water scarcity through expanded wellfields, upgraded supply systems, and accelerated installations in high-risk areas.
The 2025/26 national budget earmarked N$471 million for critical water infrastructure via MAFWLR. Part of this amount is allocated to drilling and installing dozens of boreholes, as well as rehabilitating water points.
In some regions like Zambezi and Kavango, boreholes face persistent problems, with drought causing them to dry up and the theft of solar panels and pumps only exacerbating the matter.
