Africa-Press – Namibia. A BRACKISH water desalination plant was inaugurated at Bethanie village in the //Kharas region on Friday, which deputy minister of agriculture, water and land reform Anna Shiweda described as a milestone development in the history of Bethanie.
She said it is projected that groundwater quality is expected to deteriorate because of the impact of climate change and variability.
The pilot project was established by NamWater in partnership with development partners Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN), the Adaptation Fund (AF), and the Division of Multilateral Environmental Agreements in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
“Clean water is essential for life, and it is a fundamental requirement for human life, dignity, and development. Access to clean drinking water is provided for under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“The target of this goal is to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
“As we may know Namibia is an arid country, and consequently, its water resources are very scarce. In most instances, the available quality water resources are often located very far from the people,” she said, adding that bringing quality water to the people requires investment in expensive long-distance water distribution and associated infrastructure.
Shiweda said the mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform is, among others, to ensure the sustainable development, utilisation and management of water resources in the country.
“In line with the provisions of the national policy plans, the Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5) and Harambee Prosperity Plan II, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform developed sector-specific policies that guide the execution of this mandate,” she said.
Shiweda said the government has been exploring and developing different sources of water to ensure that all Namibians, particularly rural communities, have access to quality water.
“One such source is the desalination of underground brackish water, such as the one at Bethanie, of which the inauguration is being witnessed today.
“Our target is to have 100% coverage of all Namibians in terms of access to water supply. So far we are at approximately 85%,” said the deputy minister.
She said NamWater, as an institution charged with the responsibility to provide bulk water of appropriate quality and quantity to the public, sustainably “puts it at at the very centre of our country’s development”.
The launch was attended by a number of dignitaries, including //Kharas governor Aletta Frederick.
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