NamWater CEO Abraham Nehemia Says Kavango-to-Windhoek Water Project Will Not Affect the River
By TUW
NamWater Chief Executive Officer Abraham Nehemia has assured the public that the planned abstraction of water from the Kavango River to supply central Namibia, including Windhoek, will not have a negative impact on the river.
Nehemia made the remarks while leading chief executives of various public enterprises on a tour of the N$665 million Rundu Water Treatment Plant. He said studies conducted by NamWater indicate that the amount of water to be extracted is within sustainable limits and will not threaten the long-term health of the Kavango River.
The planned project forms part of NamWater’s long-term strategy to strengthen water security for central Namibia through the proposed Kavango Link Project. The initiative involves constructing a pipeline to transfer water from the Kavango River to the national water supply system, helping to secure future supplies for Windhoek and other central areas that are increasingly under pressure from recurring droughts and growing demand.
Nehemia also said NamWater intends to further diversify the country’s bulk water sources by developing additional supply infrastructure from the Kunene and Zambezi rivers to improve Namibia’s long-term water resilience.
The proposed Kavango-to-Windhoek pipeline has, however, sparked concern among some traditional leaders and residents in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions. Community representatives have called for further studies and greater consultation, arguing that the project should not proceed until there is sufficient evidence that it will not affect the river or local communities that depend on it.
