23 Jun 2014

Member of Parliament for Borolong constituency, Mr Kitso Mokaila has informed his constituents that generally there is water scarcity in the country.

Mr Mokaila said this when addressing kgotla meetings at Mokatako, Molete, Metlojane, Chwaanyaneng, Hebron, Phihetswane, Rakhuna, Ngwatsau and Ditlharapa villages recently.

He said the purpose of his kgotla meetings was to sensitise the residents about the short term, mid-term and long term strategies to arrest shortage of water and electricity at a local level.

He said Barolong farms and Kgalagadi region experienced low rainfalls leading to inadequate water supply at the same time, boreholes holding capacity is ultimately reduced.

Mr Mokaila cited Kgoro borehole in Barolong that used to pump 40 000 litres of water per hour but with low rainfalls, its capacity had dropped down to 20 000 litres per hour

It is insightful that, misuse of water in the Barolong area is common such as watering animals with water meant for human consumption, Mr Mokaila said. He said government has embarked on a national water master plan that mapped the way forward on how water reticulation could be distributed country wide.

He said the phase one project that connected Letsibogo dam to Greater Gaborone has been completed and that Good Hope sub district water problem will stabilise.

Mr Mokaila who is also Minister of Minerals Energy and Water Resources explained that the next project will cover areas such as Pitsane, Rakhuna, Borobadilepe, Tlhareseleele, Metlojane, Chwaanyane, Mabule and Sekhutlane and others.

Mr Mokaila also encouraged residents to reduce their stocking rates, are on guard on leaking standpipes to be reported to relevant authorities, change their water consumption patterns.

Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) Senior Engineer, Mr Amogelang Molefe said the new reforms include disconnection of public standpipes and connecting prepaid standpipes as well as the introduction of water rationing operation.

However, residents received the use of coupon system with mixed feelings. Some praised the operation whereas some disagreed with the operation saying it will affect the under privileged.

Mr Mokaila noted that the new token system will help in conserving more water as the coupons will be issued to residents only and the underprivileged will continue to receive the usual support from the social workers.

In addition, he said the prepaid system will soon be rolled to all residential places
so that residents could manage their water consumption patterns accordingly.

For long term strategies, he said the government has resorted to recycle water and the human waste will be used for electricity production purposes, saying water and electricity resources will be abundant to sustain the next generations.

On education, Mr Mokaila said the academic performance of Rolong region is unsatisfactory. He said all the relevant authorities have been urged to ensure that teachers’ are provided with accommodation and any other necessities that will help them to produce better results.

He also said pupils should also not be left out, adding that authorities should ensure that they have all the necessities to help them in their learning environment.

Most of the village development committee reports revealed that they could not electrify their houses due to high connection prices of electricity.
When responding to the electricity fees concern, Mr Mokaila said Good Hope sub-district electricity has been distributed well and that government institutions were planned to be electrified first.

Botswana Power Corporation manager (BPC) for Good Hope sub-district, Mr Balekile Mponang explained that residents residing within the radius of 500 metres from the electrical transformers or school premises required to pay P5 000.00 to connect electricity to their residential plots, while those staying far from the transformers will connect electricity based on the set prices by BPC.

In his response, Mr Mokaila said his ministry is supposed to submit a cap memo to the Presidential committee for them to offer special consideration for all VDC’S to connect electricity at the cost of P5000.00, reason being that they are quite helpful in providing public servants with accommodation in their respective villages.

He also encouraged youth to utilise MP’s office in the region for any other information regarding government programmes. He said the office assists the youth with designing business proposals and urged them to desist from pursuing similar business proposals. He urged the youth to brainstorm on different viable businesses to make use of the P2million allocated to each constituency.

In addition, residents decried poor roads conditions; poor health services standards, lack of personnel in some government institutions and telephones in Kgotla offices.

However, residents applauded government programmes such as Ipelegeng and ISPAAD, saying they have benefited them. ENDS