Namibia's poor governance adding to water woes: report

The water sector in Namibia has been hampered by poor policy implementation since independence, according to special briefing report on water governance by the Institute for Public Policy Research.

According to the report released on Thursday, the water sector has been affected by severe underinvestment, limited capacity and technical skills, poor coordination among stakeholders as well as weak regulation and enforcement.

The report stated that governance challenges within the water sector are many and multi-faceted.

"Similar to other sectors in Namibia water and sanitation is hampered by poor implementation of overall sound if ambitious policies," the report said.

According to the report, it is imperative for Namibia's long-term positive and sustainable socio-economic development that these issues be addressed progressively and constructively.

Furthermore, the report noted that mistrust and lack of communication between public institutions, the private sector and the general public severely limits problem-solving approaches.

As means to rectify and address the water sector, the report suggested some recommendations, which included the finalisation and promulgation of all regulations for the Water Resources Management Act No. 11 of 2013 to ensure that the provisions in the Act are compliant with the law and legally binding.

" The ministry of Agriculture should officially establish key governing institutions: the Water Advisory Council, the Water Regulator and the Water Tribunal as outlined in the 2013 Act and government should make provisions for and fast-track finance for key water infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation and modernisation of existing infrastructure," stated the report.

Currently Namibia is experiencing water shortages with many of the water sources dry or at critically low level.

The City of Windhoek on Monday announced that water savings plunged from 32 percent to 24 percent in recent weeks. Endit