IT will take at most another five years to phase out the bucket toilet system at some towns, especially in southern Namibia, says Local Government Permanent Secretary Erastus Negonga.

To date Government has made significant strides in replacing the bucket system, Negonga told The Namibian this week.

Limited resources are the main factor slowing down the process, he said.

"Because of limited resources, funds are budgeted only for one town per annum to enable the replacement of the bucket system," he said.

At the moment, bucket toilets are being replaced with flush toilets at Stampriet, which will be followed by Aroab during the next financial year, said Negonga.

The bucket system is still in use at Aroab, Kalkrand, Gibeon, Bethanie and Berseba.

People at these towns are desperate to see the end of this unhygienic system.

"I wish Government would speed up the process in eradicating the bucket system," says Colleta Swartbooi, a resident of Gibeon.

"The bucket toilet smell is unbearable when it is hot," she added.

Gibeon Village Council Chairperson Elizabeth Karigus told The Namibian that the bucket toilets at most households have been replaced with a vacuum toilet system at a cost of N$20 million.

She said five per cent of the households are still using the bucket system because they do not have proper toilet structures.

"Connection to the vacuum toilet is only possible if one has a properly built toilet structure," Karigus added.

Karigus noted that Council is still weighing plans on how to assist those who cannot set up proper toilet structures.

"We are busy compiling a survey report to determine the financial implications to help those who cannot afford to build the toilet structures," she said.