Amarika well claims 9th life Another drowning has been reported at Amarika village in the Omusati Region where a 55-year-old man died at the end of last month after falling into a seven-metre-deep well.Otamanzi Constituency councillor Johannes Iiyambo confirmed the drowning.
He said the man died while trying to collect water from the well – situated just few metres from a non-functioning desalination plant donated by Germany.
The well claimed the life of a six-year-old boy in August.
The man has been identified as Paulus Edward ''Boy'' Shaanika, a cattle post owner at Amarika.
Shaanika''s body was recovered from the well by cattle herders who went to collect water on 27 October.
“Cattle herders found shoes at the top of the well. They started looking for the owner. They spotted a water container in the water below and when they searched the well they discovered his body and informed the police,” Iyambo said.
Shaanika, who was from Onaniki village near Etilyasa in the same constituency, was staying at his cattle post in Amarika.
In August six-year-old Martin Andiyatuye Iipinge, a learner at the Amarika Primary School, drowned in the same well while trying to fetch water.
Iipinge went missing on the evening of 13 August and was discovered by people who went to fetch water from the well the next morning. When the police were called they refused to remove the body, saying the well looked too dangerous. They then watched as local men retrieved the body. The Omusati police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Linekela Shikongo, confirmed Shaanika''s drowning but could not say who removed the body this time.
So far nine people have drowned in the Amarika wells, an important source of water for people and their animals. Continual breakdowns of the N$200 million desalination plant have forced people to draw water from these dangerous wells. According to Iiyambo, the desalination plant broke down again a month ago.
ILENI NANDJATO