Venaani calls for a water commission establishment.

By Allexer Namundjembo
Popular Democratic leader McHenry Venaani called for establishing a water commission to ensure water is used efficiently and equitably. Venaani said the Namibia Water Commission will not only ensure water conservation but will also make sure that water is efficiently used.
“As the PDM, we are calling on President Mbumba to take decisive action by establishing a Water Commission in Namibia. “The commission’s responsibilities will be mandated to oversee the comprehensivemanagement of our water resources and promote conservation efforts by providing a forum for integration, collaboration and integration of the different water interests of the major stakeholders involved in the water sector”, Venaani said.

Venaani further added that it is crucial to safeguard our agricultural sector, ensure food security, and support Namibia’s overall economic growth. This is important to ensure Namibia does not regress into a water-stressed nation. “It would also facilitate a coordinated response to water shortages, including drought
management and emergency relief efforts and support research into sustainable water practices and technologies, promoting innovations that can alleviate water scarcity”, he
added. He further said that the government should address sanitation and rural economic growth.

“While addressing the water crisis, we must also focus on revitalizing our rural economies. The migration from rural to urban areas has left many rural communities weakened. According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, rural areas have experienced a 20% decline in population over the past decade, largely due to the lack of infrastructure and opportunities.” He said several socio-economic factors, such as employment, business, education, and health, also trigger the migration. Therefore, critical agricultural skills and labour are being moved out of production areas.Venaani further said that it has reduced potential and sustainable agricultural productivity, particularly at a household level. The scarcity or poor supply of water and electricity, including their high maintenance costs, has become a burden in rural areas,leading to the abandonment of some agricultural activities.