MORE than 20% of people living in rural areas do not have access to sources of clean water. The director of rural water supply and sanitation, Leopold Niipare, made this revelation while addressing a two-day stakeholders' consultative workshop convened last week at Mariental to review the Community Based Management (CBM) policy and water supply subsidies for rural water supply. Niipare said although the national target for providing access to improved water sources has been reached, more than 20% of people in rural areas lack this basic necessity in Namibia. Against this background, he called on stakeholders to accept their responsibility to make sure water remains a catalyst for cooperation, and not conflict among communities. "Guaranteeing a water-secure country will require the full engagement of all actors," he remarked. The CBM strategy of rural water supply was first approved by Cabinet in 1997, and its main objective was that communities would assume ownership over water infrastructure in rural areas, maintain it and supply water among the rural communities at full cost-recovery. Officiating at the workshop, Hardap governor Esme Isaack said the provision of water services comes with some costs, and water users are thus expected to pay for it. Claiming that these costs have adversely affected access to water for vulnerable people, the governor said the gathering is the beginning of necessary interventions to turn challenges experienced into appropriate solutions. "I see this gathering as having a daunting task. I, therefore, urge you to diligently make serious recommendations to the CBM strategy review and subsidy policy so that it really improves the quality of life for our people," Isaack concluded.