Oshakati flooded after master plan sinks
Oshakati is again flooded after government failed to fully fund a Cabinet-approved N$1.8 billion flood control master plan, which was aimed at diverting floodwater.
After the town flooded for three consecutive years - 2007, 2008 and 2009 - Cabinet in 2011 approved the Oshakati Concept Master Plan to prioritise flood mitigation measures.
The council sought technical expertise for the development of the plan, which includes the construction of a dike northwest of the town and flood bridges at Okatana fitted with sluices, as most of water that floods Oshakati flows through the Okatana-Cuvelai stream.
With the town having flooded again, mayor Angelius Iiyambo told Namibian Sun the flood master plan was not completed due to a shortage of funds from central government.
By Tuesday morning, the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) had relocated 172 families (950 people) to the Ehenye relocation area, where they are living in tents.
Iiyambo said the project costs would run into the billions, and government could not foot the bill.
“Due to lack of funds, we could only do some activities that were part of the master plan. We are looking forward to completing it and we still include it in the council budget, but we alone cannot finance it,” Iiyambo said.
“We have deepened waterways, constructed bridges and the flood control bridge at Okatana, but it has not yet been fitted with sluice gates. This project could not help with water control in the town, only smooth the floodwater flow.”
TecnoNam and Zhong Mei Engineering Group were the contractors on the project, which commenced in 2014 with the construction of a bridge and traffic circle at Okatana to the tune of N$93 million. Two other bridges were also constructed at Onendongo connecting to Onendongo village and Oshoopala connecting to the Ehenye and Ekuku townships.
Iiyambo could not say how much money was allocated to the project by government and how much is still needed, but said as a council they have learnt a lesson.
He said they have also included deepened water runways to make sure that water flows freely without flooding informal settlements, as in the past, due to an accumulation of debris and other materials.
“We just could not put floodwater control sluice gates at Okatana bridge and the construction of a dike in the south of the town which will then divert water and avoid flooding the town. This was supposed to include cleaning the stream and lining it with concrete,” said Iiyambo.
ILENI NANDJATO
After the town flooded for three consecutive years - 2007, 2008 and 2009 - Cabinet in 2011 approved the Oshakati Concept Master Plan to prioritise flood mitigation measures.
The council sought technical expertise for the development of the plan, which includes the construction of a dike northwest of the town and flood bridges at Okatana fitted with sluices, as most of water that floods Oshakati flows through the Okatana-Cuvelai stream.
With the town having flooded again, mayor Angelius Iiyambo told Namibian Sun the flood master plan was not completed due to a shortage of funds from central government.
By Tuesday morning, the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) had relocated 172 families (950 people) to the Ehenye relocation area, where they are living in tents.
Iiyambo said the project costs would run into the billions, and government could not foot the bill.
“Due to lack of funds, we could only do some activities that were part of the master plan. We are looking forward to completing it and we still include it in the council budget, but we alone cannot finance it,” Iiyambo said.
“We have deepened waterways, constructed bridges and the flood control bridge at Okatana, but it has not yet been fitted with sluice gates. This project could not help with water control in the town, only smooth the floodwater flow.”
TecnoNam and Zhong Mei Engineering Group were the contractors on the project, which commenced in 2014 with the construction of a bridge and traffic circle at Okatana to the tune of N$93 million. Two other bridges were also constructed at Onendongo connecting to Onendongo village and Oshoopala connecting to the Ehenye and Ekuku townships.
Iiyambo could not say how much money was allocated to the project by government and how much is still needed, but said as a council they have learnt a lesson.
He said they have also included deepened water runways to make sure that water flows freely without flooding informal settlements, as in the past, due to an accumulation of debris and other materials.
“We just could not put floodwater control sluice gates at Okatana bridge and the construction of a dike in the south of the town which will then divert water and avoid flooding the town. This was supposed to include cleaning the stream and lining it with concrete,” said Iiyambo.
ILENI NANDJATO
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