WINDHOEK: Residents of Havana informal settlement, while expressing appreciation for the electrification project currently underway in their area, have called on the City of Windhoek to also address the problem of water and sanitation.
One of the residents, Silka Kanime said she is unhappy as the lack of portable toilets has resulted in people resorting to open defecation, which poses a health risk.
“It is terrible, the community needs to proper toilets like any other citizen. We appreciate the electrification of our settlement, however, the provision of proper sanitation as well as portable toilets will do us justice. It is not healthy, especially for our elders, to have to resort to open defecation. We as the youth might be able to manage, even though it is still inhuman to have to experience this,” Havana resident Sabastian Hoveka said.
Samora Machel Constituency councillor, Nestor Kalola, on Tuesday told Nampa there is still a vast need for water as about 80 000 households lack municipal services such as proper sanitation since independence in 1990, which has led to the use of open defecation in the settlement.
“In as much as the constituency has recently been electrified, the city should still make provision for these needs as the land in the constituency is yet to be serviced,” he noted.
Furthermore, Kalola noted that approximately 2 000 people benefit from the Harambee Prosperity Plan through grants, of which an amount of N.dollars 600 per month is paid to each of the 2 000 beneficiaries.
However, over 5 000 people visit the offices seeking assistance through the monthly grant, unfortunately, the budget cannot sustain the amount of households.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency
