Thursday 23 January 2014

Another toilet scheme failed in Namibia

Hundreds of toilets, costing government close to N$60 million, built and completed in Oshana Region in 2012, have still not been used.

About 500 households in Oshana were to benefit from this scheme in 2012, but until now the toilets, in most cases are already dilapidated, are standing unused. An official in the regional council said that the modern dry-sanitation facilities cost the government close to N$60 million, but, “owners could not use the toilets because they have not been trained on how to use them yet, due to lack of money to conduct such training.”

The official explained that the toilets contain different compartments for solid and liquid waste which cannot be mixed, therefore the need for education on the operation method of the system. The official continued saying, “The regional council is considering building new toilets using different materials, but we are not informed what will happen to the already built toilets.

Director of General Services and Acting Chief Regional Officer, Oshana Regional Council, Josephat Simvula, denied the claim that toilets are not in use. “All the toilets built in Oshana are operational, despite the fact the beneficiaries are not happy with them.” He, however, confirmed that the regional council will be building new household toilets. “When our councillors contacted beneficiaries, they were told the beneficiaries are not happy, as they had to remove solid waste themselves. That is why we are building new toilets like those in Ohangwena,” he said.

About ten toilets were built in each village and they are mainly meant for households with elders, traditional leaders, disabled persons, and people who cannot afford toilets.

Last year the Anti Corruption Commission investigated corruption charges in Omusati Region where about N$20 million were used in the construction of cheap toilets.

No comments:

Post a Comment