By Elina-Ombili Shishaki /
The much-anticipated Oshikoto Regional Water Resources Management Act awareness workshop took place yesterday in Omuthiya, bringing together stakeholders from various institutions.
The event was hosted by the Oshikoto Regional Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR).
This stakeholders’ awareness and outreach programme is being conducted throughout all the regions across the country.
The main objective of this workshop is to create an understanding of the Act by presenting the Act’s provisions, including regulatory mechanisms, institutional responsibilities, and the rights and obligations of various stakeholders in the water sector.
Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Oriri Rukoro, a Senior Hydrologist at MAWLR, highlighted that there are preventative measures in place to control water usage, ensure water protection and to minimise the risks of flood.
“There are regulations for dam safety and precautionary measures to be taken to minimise the risks of flood,” said Rukoro. “And failure to comply with the Water Management Act is punishable by law.”
In addition, the programme emphasises on the need for the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), highlighting on how different sectors and communities can collaborate to optimise water management and enhance resilience against water-related challenges, promoting stakeholder engagement, as well as ownership and collaboration.
The Water Resources Management Act, No.11 of 2013, also known as “Water Act” was passed by Parliament in December 2013.
The main objective of the Water Act is to ensure that water resources in Namibia are managed, developed, used, conserved and protected in the benefit of all people.
Moreover, the Integrated Water Resources Management plan is to guide the development, utilisation and overall water resources in an integrated and coordinated manner.
Institutions established by the Water Act are Water Advisory Council, Water Regulator and Water Pricing Policy, Basin Management Committees, Water point committees and local water committees and Water Tribunal.
“Borehole drilling and borehole rehabilitation requires a license; if a person drills a borehole without a license you have contravened the law,” said Mr. Leonard Hango, a Senior Hydrologist for the Cuvelai Basin.
Hango cautioned the public against water wastage as it may result in prosecution.
“Section 63(3) of this law, on wastage of groundwater, a person may not cause or allow any ground water to run to waste from a borehole, from a well or a mine; they are contravening the law, therefore it is punishable by the law.”
“Section 65 (2), a person abstracting water under subsection 1 must as soon as possible report any water wastage to relevant authorities, failure to report such incidents may result in fines.”
He further enlightened stakeholders on servitudes, rights and duties of landowners, compensations, provisions and fines.
“According to this law, Servitude Holder and Land owners have rights to access the land; [and] the High Court takes into account all relevant factors in determining the amount of compensation payable for granted servitude or servitude amendment.”
The ministry urged stakeholders and the public to always act in accordance with the “Water Act”, since failure to comply may result in fines or imprisonment, or to both fine and imprisonment for offenders.
In addition, regulations of driller’s licenses are being amended by the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, if a person is drilling a borehole or any water resources within the water protection area, a license is required.
“Effective water resources management relies heavily on the active participation of all stakeholders, thus this workshop seeks to foster a collaborative environment where the MAWLR and stakeholders can engage constructively and build partnerships that contribute to the effective implementation of the Act,” said the water ministry’s Acting Deputy Director for Geohydrology Division, Mr Sakeus Ihemba.
In the photo: Representatives from various institutions attending Water Resources Management Act’s Oshikoto regional stakeholders awareness workshop in Omuthiya. (Photos by Elina-Ombili Shishaki)
