18 Feb 2013

Residents of Toromoja have appealed to government to address the water crisis that has haunted their village for over 20 years.

Speaking on behalf of the community during President Lt Gen.l Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s visit last week, VDC chairperson, Mr Kaombona Kanani said the village relied on bowsers since they do not have a borehole.

Mr Kanani pleaded with the government to come up with a permanent solution to the water shortage as bowsing was not reliable due to constant breakdown of trucks.

Responding to the residents’ concerns, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) chief executive officer Godfrey Mudanga said the corporation was aware of the water situation at Toromoja, adding that the village was supplied with water through bowsers from Mmadikola.

Mr Mudanga said the borehole which used to supply the village was abandoned due to low yields. He explained that  the borehole was re-visited in 2006, but still failed to produce sufficient water for Toromoja residents.

Mr Mudanga further noted that currently the borehole could not be utilised because WUC had established that the pipes which were used to draw the water had sunk into the borehole and were difficult and costly to remove.

He said Toromoja would be temporarily connected to Mopipi boreholes, adding that WUC was in the process of upgrading the supply of water in all villages in the northern and central parts of Boteti.

Mr Mudanga also said all boreholes in the area would be clustered and then connected to a treatment plant to supply all villages falling within that cluster with potable water.

He noted that WUC had received P190 million emergency funding from government to improve the water situation.  He explained that the project was at tender stage and was expected to begin within three months and completed the end of 2014.

As for the current water situation at Motopi, Mr Mudanga said the village was supplied with water from a borehole at Moreomaoto.  He said since the water passes through a desalination plant, the village would not receive water because the plant was not working and as such, water would be supplied through bowsers.

Mr Mudanga concurred with residents that water bowsing was not sustainable and furthermore was costly, thus connecting the villages to cluster boreholes would be a better solution. ENDS