The Community Conservation Fund of Namibia (CCFN), through the Poverty Oriented Support to Community Conservation in Namibia project, recently conducted a series of visits to water points in the Kavango and Zambezi landscapes. These visits aimed to assess the current state of water infrastructure, engage with community members, and raise awareness on the importance of protecting and maintaining these vital resources.
In the Kavango West Region, the team visited the following water points within the Maurus Nekaro Conservancy:
- Paranyime
- Sifwe
- Gcaruhwa
- Mpanda
- Mayenzere
- Ncangcu
In the Zambezi Region, the visits focused on water points in both the Mudumu South and Mudumu North Conservancies. Sites included:
- Samba
- Big Mukusi
- Mbambazi
As part of the outreach, the project team held community meetings to educate residents on the significance of the water points and how to best care for them. These facilities are not only crucial for daily water needs but also contribute to long-term community resilience.
Unfortunately, instances of vandalism, such as cutting pipes and redirecting pipelines to individual homesteads, have compromised some of the water infrastructure. The team used this opportunity to sensitize communities on the negative impacts of such actions—not only on current access but also for future generations.
The CCFN delegation included Selma Nangolo (Project Manager), Tertu Iileka (Deputy Project Manager), Urioukwao Matundu (Technical Advisor), Bernard Chunga (Communications Officer), The team was supported by regional colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
These visits are part of a broader effort to ensure sustainable access to water for communities living within and around communal conservancies, reinforcing the link between conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and community development.
