Africa-Press – Namibia. THE project “Water for Hardap,” carried out by the Maltahöhe Commonwater Organization, has received €25,000 from the micro-project fund of the German Embassy. The funds are being used by the organization for the rehabilitation of six existing boreholes in the Maltahöhe area of the Hardap Region.
In the traditional Nama area, there are 453 wells, of which 300 potentially require rehabilitation within the next 10 years. These wells are crucial for the surrounding villages. When a pump breaks or there is a shortage of fuel, water needs to be transported from distant locations, and some families are forced to move to other settlements. There is insufficient financial means to ensure water supply in the affected areas, and there is a lack of expertise in repairing the systems.
The project aims to rehabilitate the water supply by replacing old diesel pumps with CO2-free and low-maintenance solar-powered Grundfos pumps. The goal of the renovation is not only to secure a regular water supply but also to encourage local vegetable cultivation and animal husbandry, providing basic nutrition and generating a small income for the residents.
To ensure the project’s long-term sustainability, “water point committees” are being established. These committees will be responsible for the long-term maintenance of the water points and for sharing knowledge about borehole maintenance with the residents. A small monetary contribution, called the “water cent,” will be collected from the users of the water pump and set aside for minor repairs in the future.
“Our experiences show that the residents feel a strong sense of responsibility for protecting the water supply. We are also witnessing the growth of social solidarity,” says Guido von Wietersheim, one of the initiative’s founders. With the support of the German Embassy, the organization has already renovated 13 water pumps in 2022.
The Maltahöhe CommonWaters Organization was established in 2021 with the aim of addressing water shortages in traditional Namaland in southern Namibia. The non-profit organization CommonWaters e.V. was initially established in Germany as a supporting association and partner in project development. In 2022, with the financial support of the German Embassy, the NGO successfully rehabilitated 13 wells.
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