Livestock facing thirst as dam dries up
LIVESTOCK farmers using the Ozombouvapa dam in Epukiro constituency in the Omaheke region are called upon to be cautious after the dam dried up. Ozombouvapa dam is the biggest earth dam in Epukiro with a carrying capacity of 300 000 cubic metres, which previously regularly had water throughout the year. Speaking to Nampa at the dam this week, village councillor Kambuari Katjirua said livestock are at risk of getting stuck in the mud.
“This is very dangerous – we have to collaborate and have to be at the dam every day to rescue the livestock,” Katjirua cautioned.
He said due to the severe drought in the country over the past five years, the dam did not have much water for long but it did provide the community with water until Monday.
According to the councillor, despite poor rains the current drying up of the dam was largely caused by neighbouring villages’ cattle consuming water from the dam. “This is a communal setting, livestock are moving freely and there is no way one can control water in the dam as we have to help neighbours,” said the councillor. He added that the dam is helping neighb ouring villages with water and many unknown cattle are assembling at the dam. Katjirua therefore called on farmers from Otjombundiro, Ezorongondo, Ouvanda, Otjihaenena and Okaruokape to come and identify and remove their livestock.
“The village water point is about two kilometres from the dam and livestock are at risk of getting thirsty,” he noted. On his part, Job Ndjavera, the Ozombouvapa water point caretaker, told Nampa that the dried-up dam will increase pressure to the water point. “This will be a difficult time as many livestock will destroy the fence in search of water. We have to collaborate and prevent overcrowding of cattle at our water point,” Ndjavera said. – Nampa