24 Feb 2015

Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila says he is aware that residents of Gaborone, particularly those living in Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) areas are not connected to the sewerage pipeline to the extent expected.

He told Parliament that this is despite the fact that numerous calls have been made to encourage the residents to connect to the completed sewerage infrastructure.

To encourage connection to the network, Mr Mokaila said the Water Utilities Corporation is offering residents an installment option to pay for the connection fee.

He said the connection is only done upon completion of the installments, of which the standard connection fee for plot sizes up to 450metre squared is P840 and most plots in the SHHA areas fall within the size.

Mr Mokaila said with regard to assisting the residents to construct water borne toilets, the ministry is aware of special dispensation already available to Botswana citizens including the residents of SHHA to access the Home Improvement Loan administered by the ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to improve their homesteads including construction of water borne toilets.

Mr Mokaila further said it would be a duplication of efforts to establish a special fund exclusively for the construction of water borne toilets, because SHHA scheme already exists and is available to residents.He was answering Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa who had asked why many Gaborone residents are yet to connect to the sewer line and are still using pit-latrines, despite the completion of the Gaborone Integrated sewer project.

Mr Nkaigwa had also asked what plans are in place to assist residents in SHHA areas to connect to sewer line and construct water borne toilets and when the ministry considers creating a special fund to assist them. ENDS