Maria David
THE Okongo Constituency Councillor, Efraim Shipindo, said the ongoing theft of water pumps in the constituency is unacceptable and is hindering government efforts in terms of service delivery.
Shipindo indicated that three water pump cylinders were stolen this week from boreholes at Okamanya, Onheleiwa, and Okanyanona villages, bringing the total to 13 stolen since last year.
Last year, Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, called on communities to expose people who steal water pumps so that they can be dealt with accordingly.
Schlettwein indicated that every year his ministry tries very hard, with limited financial resources, to provide water to thirsty communities. However, a week after communities start benefiting from the water pumps, the pumps are stolen.
Approached for comment, Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform spokesperson, Jona Musheko, said the ministry condemned the recent reports of cases of theft of water pumps, especially in the north and north-central regions.
According to Musheko, this setback hampers their objective of providing water supply in rural areas.
“In all those areas where the water pump and solar panel are stolen, the communities are left in a crisis as water supply is interrupted,” he said.
He then urged community members to safeguard the facilities put up by the ministry in different areas, whether boreholes, water pumps, or solar panels, as when this happens, it sets communities back.
Musheko also urged community members to report the culprits, as the government has limited resources to replace stolen equipment continuously.
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