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Sewage pollution from water companies will be cut in half by the end of the decade, the Environment Secretary Steve Reed pledged yesterday (20 July 2025). Discussing Labour’s plans for […]

[Namibian] Residents of Oshakati's Extension 8 are calling on the Oshakati Town Council to put an end to raw sewage headaches as waste has been flowing into their area for close to a month.

Residents of Oshakati’s Extension 8 are calling on the Oshakati Town Council to put an end to raw sewage headaches as waste has been flowing into their area for close to a month. The raw sewage is flowing from overwhelmed broken manholes due to blockages in the system and collapsed infrastructure. It flows into homes and walking paths, as well as the open flood plains, before joining the nearby water canal. “This has been going on since the beginning of May. In total, 10 houses in the area are heavily affected. Waste is flowing into our yards and the stench of faeces is unbearable, no should live like this,” says resident Lahja Nghipangelwa. Nghipangelwa says she has over the past two months telephonically engaged the council’s engineering department and laid her complaints on the situation. “My calls to the town council have all fallen on deaf ears. Sewage is flowing all over the place, the roads and walking paths are filled with waste and as result children going to school and those going to town and vice versa have to detour to avoid walking on waste. When at home one has to continuously make use of air freshener to remedy the stench. It is also unhygienic for one to constantly breathe in that type of air,” Nghipangelwa says. Another resident, Sakaria Thomas, blames the manholes breaking down on poor workmanship. “The people contracted to set up this manhole did shoddy work. The town council should hurry up and address this situation. The area has been serviced by the council and people are paying rates and services to the council, so why should they prolong attending to this?” When contacted recently Oshakati Town Council mayor Leonard Hango said he was not aware of the situation but that it would be attended to as a matter of urgency. “Thank you for informing me about the matter. I will task the relevant department to act immediately,” Hango said. The post Oshakati residents plead forend to sewage nightmare appeared first on The Namibian.

Vendors at Katima Mulilo say their income is under threat due to sewage overflowing across parts of the town. Native Small Traders Association chairman Mulijani Simasiku says many vendors will be forced to either stop working or move to areas where there are fewer customers. “Food and fresh produce vendors will be mostly affected, as it will be unhygienic for them to operate in such an environment. It may even cause vendors to get sick, as that stench is too toxic to be inhaled regularly. The town council should, therefore, find a speedy solution for the sewage crisis,” he says. He urges the town council to provide chemicals to those operating around overflowing manholes to reduce the stench and prevent waterborne diseases. His comments follow a major sewerage pump malfunction at Station 7, which has led to warnings of possible evacuations and business closures. The town’s ageing sewerage infrastructure has been a challenge for years, resulting in frequent malfunctions that cause a backflow, which subsequently overflows through toilets, showers and manholes across the town. Katima Mulilo chief executive Raphael Liswaniso told The Namibian over the weekend the malfunction worsened because no maintenance was conducted over the past two weeks due to transport challenges. “It’s an alarming situation. The overflowing will be as a result of the sewer pump being unable to absorb new waste, which will cause a backflow. We need a heavy sucker pump to pump out old waste; however, we do not know where to dispose of the waste. Our technical team is hard at work to remedy the hazardous effects of this malfunction,” he said. Liswaniso added that the possibility of sewage overflowing around town is inevitable, although the town council is working hard to reduce the pressure on the sewerage network. He said residents should relocate to villages to avoid flushing toilets, and businesses that use a lot of water should close. “That will help reduce pressure on the sewerage network. However, if we are unable to fix the malfunction, it will result in the closure of all the businesses and the suspension of other services. Therefore, it’s best if residents and businesses start taking precautionary measures because although it’s still a bit manageable, it’s a critical situation,” he said. According to Liswaniso, the town council requires N$4 million to fix the pump station. Katima Mulilo has a population of 46 401 with 11 739 households, according to the 2023 population and housing census report. Community activist Dobson Kwala says this situation presents a major health crisis for the residents, as the overflowing sewage exposes residents to possible disease outbreaks such as cholera, skin diseases and dysentery. “The government should step in and assist the town council; otherwise, they will be battling outbreaks of various diseases that will come about as a result of these hazardous sewage overflows. “Meanwhile, businesses will also be impacted financially if they have to close, and it will impact the livelihoods of many residents,” he says. The post Katima sewage spill disrupts businesses appeared first on The Namibian.

[Namibian] The Katima Mulilo Town Council has warned of a sewage overflow after a major pump failure amid ageing infrastructure and rapid population growth.

The Katima Mulilo Town Council has warned of a sewage overflow after a major pump failure amid ageing infrastructure and rapid population growth. Chief executive Raphael Liswaniso on Saturday told The Namibian although they are working hard to repair the main sewage pump, it will not be repaired soon. He said residents should temporarily relocate to the villages, while businesses should also consider closing so they are not exposed to or affected by the overflowing sewage. “It’s an alarming situation. There’s a possibility of a sewage river situation being experienced in some parts of town. Residents flushing their toilets will worsen the situation, as the sewage pump is unable to absorb all the waste. We also urged businesses using a lot of water to close for now to reduce the pressure on the sewerage network,” he said. Liswaniso said if the malfunction persists, businesses would need to close and other services would be suspended. “It will be best if residents and businesses start taking precautionary measures, because although its still manageable, it’s a critical situation,” he said. He said the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development have been informed of the situation, and they are working together to promptly find a solution. The town’s sewerage system has been described as disastrous, as its ageing infrastructure is not able to handle the growing population, and the town council is unable to replace it due to financial challenges. The current sewerage infrastructure was designed for a population of 8 000, however, the town’s population currently stands at 46 401 people. The post Katima Mulilo sewage crisis worsens as town pump fails, residents urged to relocate appeared first on The Namibian.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed a record total of 81 criminal investigations into water companies.

Katima Mulilo Town Council chief executive Raphael Liswaniso says the town’s sewerage infrastructure is in a disastrous state as some of the pipes are so old they have turned into soil. The current sewerage infrastructure was designed for a population of 8 000; however, the town’s population stands at 46 401. Liswaniso said this during an interview with The Namibian yesterday, adding that the town has been battling with sewage overflowing and blockage challenges for the past 25 years. He added that the affected locations are New Look, Soweto, Ngweze, Greenwell and Boma. “What makes the repairing difficult is the design system of the old sewage network, as the houses are built on top of it. The sewage pipes were built with orange sandbag pipes since before the 1980s and have turned into sand. As a result, the sewerage lines underneath these houses are non-existent, subsequently creating hazardous conditions,” Liswaniso said. He added that they attempt to do repairs, but it requires the whole sewerage network to be replaced. “The government has allocated about N$491 million for the construction of a treatment plant over the next three financial years. However, this does not even solve half of the problem because the sewerage lines would not be able to direct it to the sewer treatment plant due to their current conditions. We would need an additional N$500 million to replace the whole sewerage system,” he said. Liswaniso added that the sewerage pump stations are currently pumping 24/7 despite being old, which results in pumps breaking on a weekly basis. “We are replacing sewerage pumps every two weeks, and it’s a costly exercise. Ideally, for the pump stations to function properly under the current pressure, we would need to upgrade them by installing about three pumps in each of them. Imagine, one pump costs over N$50 000. This is money the council does not have,” he said. Residents like Alphonsina Libetwa have had to endure sewage waste overflowing in their homes and yards on a daily basis. As one enters Libetwa’s house, the stench is evident from the kitchen door and as you walk through the house. Libetwa said she no longer sleeps at her house because she cannot handle the smell. “Whenever the sewage waste overflows, I mostly live outside due to this bad smell. I only go inside to sleep. However, I cannot sleep properly. I even lose my appetite because who wants to cook and eat in a house that smells like that? At the risk of my health, I try my best to drain the sewage waste manually using a bucket,” she said. Libetwa said even the strongest cleaning material does not take the smell away, and it fills up again anyway. “I decided to move to my sister’s house. I really feel bad that I cannot live or sleep in my own house,” she said. Libetwa said she reports blockages immediately; however, the council does not respond on time. “When they finally come and fix the blockage, it does not last. . . We are dying while we pay our rates and taxes on time. The council keeps on approving backyard flats while they know very well that their sewerage infrastructure cannot handle it,” she said. Resident Mackien Masule’s backyard regularly overflows with waste. “We have been suffering like this for years now. I have to keep my children indoors the whole day because they will go play in that sewage waste. It’s really not a healthy environment for all of us as breathing becomes difficult at times,” he says. Masule says they have stopped opening their windows to minimise the smell entering the house. “We live through this bad smell on a daily basis. We report this weekly. However, we do not get assistance on time. The town council should do weekly maintenance on their infrastructure because they know it is in a dilapidated state,” he says. Former health minister Richard Kamwi says the spillage of sewage waste around the town is a ticking time bomb. “The day a bacteria known as vibrio cholera hits the surface of that mess at Katima Mulilo, the infection will spread like wildfire. This matter needs the central government’s intervention to avoid such a disaster,” he says. The post Katima Mulilo’s sewerage system collapsing, residents live in filth appeared first on The Namibian.

Hertta-Maria Amutenja  Residents of the Havana and Hakahana residential areas in Windhoek have raised alarm over open sewage trenches along the Hakahana-Havana Road and Peter Nanyemba (Monte Cristo) Road, calling the situation a serious public safety risk. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Movement said more than five vehicles have fallen into the trenches recently, with criminal activity around the sites also on the rise. AR Khomas regional chairperson Sem David said the unfinished road and sewage works have left the area unsafe for motorists, pedestrians, and children. “Children are seen playing inside the trenches. These are not just health risks. They are also death traps,” he said. David added that at night, the trenches become difficult to see, especially as there are no warning signs or barriers to protect road users. “An elderly man was recently robbed by people pretending to assist him after his car got stuck. A community member who tried to intervene was allegedly shot at,” he said. According to the statement, residents plan to close the trenches themselves if the authorities fail to act. “We demand urgent action. Our lives cannot be held hostage by incomplete development,” it reads. The roads in question serve as key access routes for many residents of Havana and Hakahana. A Havana resident, Salmi Hamukwaya, said the trenches have become a daily danger. “We fear for our children and ourselves. Every day, someone nearly falls in. Some people have lost phones and money after being robbed when their cars got stuck,” she said. The City of Windhoek’s spokesperson, Lydia Amutenya, said that the trenches along Peter Nanyemba Road are part of electrical installations and not sewer infrastructure.  “The trenches are for the installation of electrical services and not related to sewer works. The road construction is focused on the Omulunga and Winnie Mandela intersections. The recent rain caused delays, but we expect to open these by the end of April,” Amutenya said.. She added that safety measures are being undermined.  “Barricades and warning signs are in place but are constantly vandalised or removed by the public. The contractor replaces them weekly. We urge the community to protect these installations,” she said. Octagon Construction is the contractor handling the project, which forms part of the Ongos Valley Township Development. The full project is expected to be completed by the end of June 2025. Questions were sent by the Windhoek Observer to the Namibian Police to find out whether any of the reported criminal incidents had been recorded or investigated, and what is being done to ensure public safety at the sites. No response was received by the time of publication.

Residents of Rundu’s Hilka Park have raised concern over continued sewer leaks in their area which expose them to potential diseases. Residents’ representative Prince Muha has said sewerage blockages, unsanitary conditions and an unpleasant smell have been neglected for a long time. Muha says the situation has been aggravated by bureaucratic deflections between the Rundu Town Council and Armstrong Property Developers which have left the community feeling abandoned and desperate for resolution. “As taxpayers, we urge the Armstrong Property Developers and Rundu Town Council to take immediate action to address this issue and resolve the blockage,” Muha stresses. He says the unbearable odour and unsightly sewage spillage have turned life in the neighborhood into a daily battle for dignity and safety. “Despite numerous complaints and pleas, we are caught in a frustrating back-and-forth between the local council and the developer,” Muha says. He adds that the council claims sole responsibility lies with the developer, while the developer is reportedly dragging its feet in addressing the problem. “This lack of accountability has left us with no clear path forward, [causing] frustration and feelings of neglect,” Muha says. Muha questions how a location that generates revenue for the council can be left in such dire circumstances, and says residents are seeking “clarity and transparency about the ownership of the issue”. Sakaria Shopati, a town engineer at the council, says the council assembled a team to investigate the matter on the ground. “The team investigated the situation [and] they are busy compiling the report for the head of technical and the chief executive’s office to give directives,” Shopati says, adding that more details will be shared once the council has make a decision. He said more details will be made once the decision is made and the way forward. Matthews Hungamo, the owner of Armstrong Property Developers, has told The Namibian claims that sewerage pumps have not functioned for two years are untrue. “Since Hilka Park existed up to date, we replaced four machine pumps. As the developer we are always trying our best to fix the pump,” Hungamo states. Hungamo claims Hilka Park residents bear responsibility for disposing of unsuitable materials (such as pantyliners, plastic or stones) in the main sewer line. “The new pump is functioning very well, and it was replaced last week,” Hungamo says. The post Rundu residents raise concern over continued sewer leaks appeared first on The Namibian.