Water experts met in Windhoek on Tuesday to discuss the drafting of the nation’s first ever water management master plan. The drafting of such a master plan is a requirement of the Water Act of 2004. First attempts of action started last year when officials of the water department of the ministry of agriculture and of the Desert Research Foundation got together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Unesco to discuss the way forward and possible funding for the process. The effort is part of a regional and international movement, the Global Water Partnership, which is run by the World Water Council. Namibia is linked through its "Namibia Water Partnership" to this movement. An African Water Council is also in existence. Experts like Peter Tarr, Piet Heyns and Dr Mary Seely on Tuesday discussed the way forward over the next year to draft Namibia’s water management master plan. More details are available at the DRFN, 061-377500 or e-mail to clarem@drfn.org.na. Last year the secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) published its "Regional Strategic Action Plan on Integrated Water Resources, Development and Management". Copies of that document are available from the department of water affairs and the DRFN office.

Windhoek residents who are tired of long queues when buying electricity via the pre-payment system will now have an easier way of doing so. From now on residents can make use of ATM’s to purchase electricity. Mayor Mathew Shikongo launched the system together with First National Bank on Tuesday. The regular electricity bills can now also be paid at any FNB branch.