Water a powerful weapon

Phillepus Uusiku With water being an essential resource to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector received the third-largest share behind transport and education in the development budget for the 2020/21 fiscal year.In the preceding 2019/20 fiscal year, the water sector was not part of the top five most allocated sectors list. The water sector replaced the health and social services sector in the top five most allocated sectors in the current development budget . The 10% allocation to the water sector in the development budget for the 2020/21 fiscal year did not come as a surprise, as it is a powerful tool to fight the Covid-19 global pandemic. The sector also intends to construct and complete large capital projects, which will be very costly. The completion of these projects is expected to have positive spill-over effects on the economy in the long run. Capital projects The construction of new water supply infrastructure will ensure that Namibia has sustainable production and consumption of water resources, resulting in improved access to safe drinking water for human consumption and industry use.The project interventions in the sector are to construct large dams, desalination plants and bulk water supply schemes for larger settlements.The main components include the construction of the Neckartal Dam, a water transfer scheme and the development of 5 000 hectares of irrigation plots. Other components include the development of the Mariental flood mitigation measures, cleaning of the Fish river and the modification of size and outlet works at the Hardap Dam. It is expected that local communities as well as the nation at large will benefit from these interventions.The largest project expected to be undertaken in the water sector is the costly completion of the Neckartal Dam and it is expected to cost about N$528 million. One of the national development plan (NDP) goals is to achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth by constructing water supply infrastructure. Therefore, the completion of this project will ensure that sufficient bulk water is available for growth and development. Sanitation and hygieneThe sector also aims to facilitate the development of sanitation infrastructure to ensure that Namibians have improved sanitation in both rural and urban areas.Furthermore, this involves the establishment of an institutional arrangement responsible for sanitation coordination, the development of sanitation regulations and the implementation of a five-year national sanitation strategy.Households that will be using the infrastructure are the beneficiaries. This essential project has received an allocation of N$4 million.

Water a powerful weapon

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Republikein 2025-07-09

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Water a powerful weapon

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Republikein 2025-07-09

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