Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698147712930.pdf (Namibia)
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, WATER AND LAND REFORM MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, WATER AND LAND REFORM MOTIVATION STATEMENT MAIN PROGRAMME: WATER VOTE 38 BY HONOURABLE ANNA NDAHAMBELELA SHIWEDA, MP DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, WATER AND LAND REFORM 31 MARCH 2023 Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee; Honourable Members; 1.

The statement, “Water is Life” remains forever relevant as humanity, environment, and our flora and fauna depend on water for survival and existence.
It has been said that, when water comes from improved and accessible sources, people spend less time and effort physically collecting it, meaning they can be productive in other economic activities.

Water plays an important role in ensuring equitable, sustainable and productive urban and rural economies.

In fact, no socio-economic development is possible without a secured supply of water.

2.
2.

I therefore have the honour to introduce Vote 38: Main Programme Water for the 2023/2024 Financial Year for your favourable consideration and approval.

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3.

The purpose of this programme is to ensure water supply security through the sustainable management of the available water resources; coordinated planning and implementing the development of the rural and bulk water supply infrastructure, developing and maintaining the water management and monitoring systems, collecting and providing information necessary for integrated water resource management.

4.

During the last Financial Year, the Programme managed various projects in excess of N$530 million.

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5.

Under this programme, the water sector has managed to record some progress in terms of drilling, installation and rehabilitation of boreholes in rural communities across the country: 5.1 Two hundred and fourteen (214) boreholes were drilled, installed and rehabilitated in the following regions, namely: Otjozondjupa, Ohangwena, Kavango East, Kavango West, Zambezi, Omaheke, Erongo, //Kharas, Khomas, Oshikoto, Kunene, Omusati and Hardap.
Page | 1 5.2.Four hundred and seventy-Four (474) Private off takes were connected to pipeline water supply; 132 in Ohangwena, 138 in Oshana, 108 in Oshikoto, and 96 in Omusati regions.

5.2 One thousand two hundred and ninety three (1293) existing water supply infrastructure have been repaired and maintained, namely; 434 in Ohangwena, 338 in Oshana, 63 Kavango East, 20 in Otjozondjupa, 108 in Kunene, 73 in Hardap, 132 in //Kharas, 98 in Omusati and 25 in Erongo regions.
5.3 Fifty three (53) water point associations were established and water point committees were elected, responsible for the management of rural water supply infrastructure; 2 in Oshana, 10 in Otjozondjupa, 10 in Kunene, 10 Hardap, 3 in Omusati, 8 in Kavango west and 10 in Erongo region.

5.4 Fifty (50) existing water point committees were assessed for functionality after training in the following regions; Ohangwena (3), Erongo (8), Otjozondjupa (10), //Kharas (20) and in Omusati (9).
5.5 Fifty (50) Local water associations were supported for billing: 5 in Ohangwena, 19 in Omusati, 13 in Kunene, 4 Hardap, 9 in //Kharas region.

5.6 Two hundred and twenty nine (229) communities were supported under the emergency water tanker services; 7 in Ohangwena, 44 in Omusati, 50 in Oshikoto, 9 in Otjozondjupa, 25 in Kunene, 49 in Hardap, and 45 //Kharas regions respectively.

Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members 6.

7.
7.

The total proposed budget for the FY2023/24 for Vote 38 amounts to N$634, 773,000 to carry out the following Sub-programmes:- Allow me now to elaborate on key planned activities by sub-programme: SUB-PROGRAMME 1: Water Resource Management, whose objective is to ensure sustainable management and development of water resource in an integrated manner.

This sub-programme is allocated an amount of N$ 51,991,000.

Page | 2 8.
Under this sub-programme, the ministry will continue to implement the following projects – 8.1 Maintain and upgrade the water resource monitoring network and 8.2 Improve the knowledge and understanding of national water resources, these include among others the quantification of Groundwater Resources in Namibia and further developing the Cuvelai Etosha Basin Management Strategy, licencing and decision making tools and 8.3 Jointly manage the transboundary shared waters to ensure that Namibia’s share is secured, and iv) complete the feasibility study for the Noordoewer/Vioolsdrift Dam along the Lower Orange River to enhance water availability for the users in the south particularly those that are solely depended on the Lower Orange for the water supply.
Ministry will also develop strategies, policies and legislation aimed at sustainable water resources management and development.

SUB-PROGRAMME 2: Rural Water Infrastructure and Sanitation – to ensure development of infrastructure to ensure access of water supply and sanitation for all.

9.

10.

A total amount of N$ 413,280,000 is proposed for this sub-programme.
Planned activities at output level include the construction of ground and surface water supply scheme for rural communities and schools; construction and rehabilitation (inclusive of modernisation of traditional wells) of standalone rural water pipe systems, such as the Ohangwena aquifer deep boreholes connecting many villages, (e,g, Epembe, Omundaungilo and Oshikunde Constituencies) and supported by solar pumping systems; identify and construct gravity fed water systems; and rehabilitation and construction of innovative shallow and deep wells to meet the needs for livestock watering and food production.
Honourable chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members Page | 3 11.

The Ministry secured a loan from the African Development Bank (AFDB) to the amount of N$1,9 billion, while the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) will contribute N$878 million over a period of 5 years, towards the implementation of the Water Sector Support Program (WSSP).
The funds will be utilized towards the implementation of the following water supply schemes; 11.1 Katima-Kongola in the Zambezi Region, 11.2 Ruacana South in the Omusati Region, 11.3 King Kauluma-Omutsegonime in the Oshikoto Region 11.4 Iitapa- Okeeholongo in the Omusati Region, 11.5 Katima Mulilo-Ngoma in the Zambezi Region and 11.6 Otjombinde in the Omaheke Region 12.
The DWSSC recently concluded a demographic survey and the above-mentioned pipeline projects and is currently reviewing the preliminary designs.

The appointed engineering consultants are busy finalizing the finals designs and the bidding documents for the contractors.

13.

The Ondangwa-Omuntele Water Supply Pipeline Scheme in the Oshikoto region was recently completed.
The Ministry, with funding from the Disaster Risk Management, is currently extending the scheme, due to the complexity of water supply needs in rural areas.

The contractor is currently busy connecting additional manifolds and water meter on the pipeline to provide water to the newly identified beneficiaries.

14.

The Onamatanga water supply pipeline in the Omusati Region also needs to be finalized.
The DWSSC intends to install existing boreholes and construct a pipeline network to provide water to the communities in the Onamatanga Area.

The engineering consultant has been appointed and is currently developing the preliminary designs.

15.

The Ministry has embarked on the Ozondati-Omatjete Water Supply pipeline in collaboration with the Erongo Regional Council.

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The Ministry has also embarked on the Ohamaremba-Okangwati Water Supply pipeline in collaboration with the Kunene Regional Council.

Honourable chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members 17.

With regard to sanitation coordination, it is worth noting that as a country we are not doing well.
In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform as a coordinating Ministry for Sector, has embarked on practical efforts aimed at scaling up construction of sanitation facilities countrywide.

The Ministry has decided to adopt a new approach on School Led Total Sanitation and Community Led Total Sanitation strategies to conform to Namibian norms and traditions.

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18.

To this end, the Ministry received approval from Cabinet last year to scale up sanitation through the National Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy with its accompanying Employment of Unemployed young people model in the construction of sanitation facilities.

The Ministry has also decided to support urban sanitation through collaboration with local authorities.
In this regard, the Ministry has provided some support (N$1.7 million each) to Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Otavi local authorities to address their sewerage challenges.

19.

Through the Namibia Water Sector Support Program for collaboration, the Ministry is also consulting other local authorities such as Noordoewever, Keetmanshoop, Gibeon, Stampriet, Tsandi, Kalkrand, Omuthiya, Opuwo, Oshakati, Ongwediva, Eenhana and Ondangwa.
Others to be consulted include Maltahohe, Tses, Nkurenkuru, Fransfontein, Rundu, Okongo, Gobabis respectively.

20.

I am pleased to confirm that significant progress is recorded in so far as construction of ablution facilities at Schools, Health centres and Public places is concerned.

To date the Ministry has finalised bidding documents for 7 schools and 1 public place in Kunene, 5 schools in Omusati, 5 schools and 5 clinics in Ohangwena and 7 schools and 1 public place Page | 5 in Oshikoto regions.
The next steps will be to advertise, evaluate and award to successful bidders.

21.

We are also at an advanced stage empowerment of communities to design, build and operation and maintenance of latrines.

Thus far construction materials are being delivered to Kavango East and Otjozondjupa Regions.

Furthermore, cost estimates to procure construction materials for Kavango West, Ohangwena and Omusati Regions are finalized.
Next steps is to organize and commence trainings for the communities especially unemployed youth and thereafter advertise and for supply of such materials.

SUB-PROGRAMME 3: Construction of Water Supply Security Infrastructure, as per Terms of Reference of the CCWSS to fast track solutions to the water supply shortage country wide, for which N$ 169,502,000 is allocated.

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22.

Critical national water supply security projects continued to be dealt with under the auspices of the CCWSS, and are in line with the Presidential Directive and Harambee Prosperity Plans.

I will elaborate further on some key projects below:- 22.1 Abenab borehole development and linking with Eastern National Water Carrier (ENWC) - to harness this up to now untapped source of water for supply to the Central Area of Namibia and en-route areas.
22.2 Ohangwena No 2 Well Field (Omafo - Eenhana Extension) - A first phase development of the Ohangwena II aquifer system to mainly cater for the water demand in an area between and including Oshandi and Eenhana.

22.3 A new Desalination Plant – this project entails the development of a new Plant as per the recommendations of the Feasibility study and Cabinet; and the taking over and upgrading of the existing desalination plant of Orano at Wlotzkasbaken.
22.4 Gammams & Otjomuise Wastewater Treatment Plant(s) upgrade - upgrade, modernization and expansion of the Gammams & Otjomuise Wastewater Treatment Plants to cater for immediate future expansion, for legal compliance and to feed additional Direct Potable Reclamation (DPR) 2.

Page | 6 22.5 Additional Direct Potable Reclamation Plant (DPR2) - the DPR2 project entails the construction of a 20 Megalitre-per-day (MLD) direct potable reclamation plant.

The plant will be constructed in two phases.


22.6 The Oshakati Purification Plant Extension, Rundu Purification Plant Extension, Kuiseb Collector 2 Schwarzekuppe Swakopmund Phase 3 and Omdel- Wlotzkasbaken pipeline replacement.

Honourable chairperson of the Whole House Committee Honourable Members 23.

As I conclude, there is an urgent need to invest in water infrastructure, both for construction and operation and maintenance.
So far, the total estimated cost for the Water projects both bulk and rural add up to more than N$ 11 billion in the next five years.

There remains huge gaps in the allocated budget for this year, and thus will not be adequate to implement the envisaged sub-programmes and projects.

If we must meet the Vision 2030, SDG 6 and other national goals of water for all by 2030, water sector need more support and engagement on how best to mobilise extra funds to meet these objectives.

24.
24.

For the FY23/24 Financial Year, Vote 38: the total allocated budget amounts to N$634.773 million, corresponding to 0.9 percent (nearly 1.0%) of total non- statutory expenditure to implement all our three life sustaining Sub-Programmes for the water resources and sanitation sector.

25.

I therefore seek for your support and approval for this proposed allocation.

Thank you Page | 7