THE rain that fell over many parts of the central north between Sunday night and yesterday morning has brought sighs of relief to the residents especially the farmers who have lost many of their livestock during this year's devastating drought.
The councillor for Uuvudhiya Constituency Amutenya Ndaafa, whose area has been a grazing haven for many farmers from all over the central north, told The Namibian yesterday that Uuvudhiya area got showers and rain was still falling yesterday afternoon.
He said this is a big relief to many farmers who are grazing their animals in that area. According to Ndaafa, many farmers lost cattle because of the severe drought that hit the area.
“We have struggled a lot with inadequate water and fodder for the animals, especially cattle. Many farmers had to spend a lot of money to buy fodder to save their animals,” Ndaafa said adding that many of the farmers may still need assistance because their money has been exhausted.
Ndaafa however said the rain that fell in the area on Sunday evening was accompanied by strong winds that blew away many people's houses and cuca shops in the Uuvudhiya area, leaving many sleeping in the open.
According to Ndaafa, houses and cuca shops at John yaOtto Centre as well as at Ondjunguklume and Omambuku were damaged, some extensively, during Sunday's storm.
Although Oshakati residents are happy with the rain, they expressed fear that their houses, shops, cuca shops, schools and churches as well as other community centres might be flooded because of the run off from the regraded streets and main roads that are higher than the level of these buildings.
They said the town council had not made provision for water drainage and if heavy rains come, these businesses, houses and other facilities will be under water.
“Unless the town council does something now, people will be under water,” a resident of Oshakati said.
Many farmers are now busy preparing their mahangu fields although most of those who use donkeys and oxen for draught power say the animals are still too weak to pull the ploughs because of the drought and they will need tractors to plough their fields.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, has promised to assist farmers to plough their fields at a subsidised rate.
An appeal has been sent to the regional councillors and village headmen to coordinate the system, so that farmers who need this assistance can plough their fields.
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