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Water a basic human right – Schlettwein

Ellanie Smit
Agriculture and water minister Calle Schlettwein says it is time to declare access to water a basic human right, emphasising that water provision has been taken for granted for too long.

“I am convinced that the time has come that we must consider access to water a basic human right. We have the right to live, which right becomes moot if water is unavailable. The right to water therefore must be accepted.”

Schlettwein made these remarks at the commemoration of World Water Day held in Opuwo in the Kunene Region.

Of the total volume of water globally, it is estimated that a mere 2.5% is available as fresh water, and of that, 96% is tied up in polar ice caps, glaciers or underground.

The minister warned that demand for water has been increasing globally and in Namibia.

This trend will continue over the coming decades due to population growth, socio-economic development and increased food production, he stressed.

‘Existential importance’

Climate change is disrupting the freshwater cycle, and with that, it brings about severe negative consequences.

“Rising temperatures and increased rainfall variability are already evident on our continent of Africa," Schlettwein said.

In many areas, freshwater resources, which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and pollution, are declining and becoming increasingly unpredictable and unavailable.

The minister highlighted that Namibia, with its erratic and arid climate, is particularly vulnerable.

“Water is of existential importance to households for life, food production, cultural norms, provision of health, education, economic activities and maintenance of the natural environment, including wildlife.”

Working together

Schlettwein further stressed that transboundary water cooperation cannot be overemphasised in an interconnected world.

Through transboundary water cooperation, projects such as the Calueque Scheme were made possible.

“The Baynes Hydropower Project, when eventually implemented, will bring much-needed economic inputs in the form of power to our communities and nation at large. Other infrastructure, such as roads, will become more available to make community connectivity easier.”

Furthermore, government in its efforts to ensure water provision in the Kunene Region, is constructing the Ohamaremba-Okangwati Pipeline.

The project is 79% complete and is expected to be finished by the end of July. It will provide potable water to the Okanguati settlement from the Ohamaremba aquifer.

Similarly, 31 production boreholes were successfully installed during this financial year, while the installation of nine drilled boreholes is ongoing, and contractors are currently rehabilitating 27 existing boreholes. This brings the total number of active boreholes to 682.

The construction of two mini desalination plants was also completed in the Sesfontein and Petrusfontein constituencies, respectively.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-07

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Premier League: Fulham 2 vs 1 Brentford Katima Mulilo: 22° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 31° Eenhana: 21° | 31° Oshakati: 21° | 31° Ruacana: 20° | 31° Tsumeb: 19° | 26° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 23° Omaruru: 20° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 19° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 12:28, High tide: 06:39, Low Tide: 00:56, High tide: 18:52 Swakopmund: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:37, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:50 Walvis Bay: 15° | 24° Wind speed: 23km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:36, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:49 Rehoboth: 20° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 36° Aranos: 20° | 34° Lüderitz: 14° | 24° Ariamsvlei: 22° | 36° Oranjemund: 15° | 24° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 19° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 13° | 24° Maseru: 12° | 25° Antananarivo: 14° | 30° Lilongwe: 22° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 26° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 22° Durban: 16° | 23° Johannesburg: 15° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 31° Lusaka: 20° | 31° Harare: 17° | 30° Currency: GBP to NAD 22.5 | EUR to NAD 18.76 | CNY to NAD 2.44 | USD to NAD 17.46 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.26 | EGP to NAD 0.35 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.64 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.07 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 133.26 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.21 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1668.91 | USD to ZAR 17.47 | USD to ZMW 26.9 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1858.03 Down -1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14296.93 Down -0.02% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31045.26 Up +0.82% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9878.53 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - 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