AFTER being without water for eight days, Khorixas hospital patients and staff were relieved on Friday when the municipality reconnected water to the health facility.

The hospital's water supply was cut in the first week of January because of a debt of nearly N$300 000, according to sources.

"I am very happy as there is now water at the hospital," Thomas Shapumba, the director of health in the Kunene Region, told The Namibian.

But Shapumba denied that the hospital owed the municipality more than N$300 000.

"We don't owe any money to the council," Shapumba told The Namibian.

Earlier, the acting health permanent secretary, Peter Ndaitwah, also said that no money was owed to the Khorixas municipality.

"Ask the council why they closed the water," Ndaitwah said.

Acccording to Shapumba there was a communication problem between the two parties that led to the disconnection. "There must be a proper line of communication between us (Ministry of Health) and the Khorixas council," Shapumba said.

The Namibian learned from reliable sources that Swapo district coordinator Ellis Geiriseb had played a part in the reconnection of the water.

"For three days I consulted various officials in Khorixas and the region over the closure of water, after I learned in the media about it," Geiriseb confirmed to The Namibian.

Geiriseb said negotiations should have taken place between the concerned parties first. He charged that the water supply was cut to tarnish the image of the central government.

Khorixas is a stronghold of the opposition United Democratic Front.