26 Mar 2013

The deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Mrs Rapelang Mojaphoko has said climate information is vital in people’s daily life and developments.

Mrs Mojaphoko who was speaking during the commemoration of World Meteorological Day held in Sefhophe on Saturday emphasised the importance of accurate observations and predictions as well as free and timely exchange of information about weather, climate.

“Weather and climate information is provided to stakeholders such as construction and insurance companies, environmental consultants and the general public for infrastructure design, construction, renewable energy and other sectors of the economy,” she said.

Thus she said people depend on the natural environment, particularly on weather and climate for their daily lives as they have a major impact on socio-economic development.

She noted that climate was extremely important for sustaining life on earth as it had great effect on food security, security of life and property, water resources, leisure and sustainable development.

She said the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services work 24 hours a day all year round adding that their early and reliable warnings of the likely occurrence of severe weather and climate events allowed decision makers, communities and individuals to be better prepared for any disaster.

“They thus help save life and property, protect resources and the environment and avoid socio-economic setbacks,” she said.

Giving a brief history of the department of Meteorological Services, Mrs Mojaphoko said that before independence, meteorological observations made in Botswana were transmitted to Mafikeng in South Africa which was then the capital of British Bechuanaland Protectorate (present day Botswana).

She said the observations were processed by a meteorologist on loan from South African Weather Bureau. In 1965 the meteorological office in Mafikeng was transferred to Gaborone as a branch in the newly created Civil Aviation under the then Ministry of Works and Communications.

However, she noted that the police were tasked with the duty of meteorological duties. In 1972, the police were relieved of meteorological duties by the meteorological personnel.

“Appreciable progress in station network expansion occurred through Government efforts and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Voluntary Co-operation Programme,” she said.

The DPS said currently 17 manual synoptic stations, 13 climate stations, four agromet stations and 401 rainfall stations nation wide are operational. However, she noted that the network was not enough to cover the entire geographical spread of Botswana according to the WMO standard radius of 250 km between stations.

She said that it has been established that Botswana requires 25 weather stations and that the government is committed to meeting this minimum requirement despite the lack of financial resources. She said in an effort to address the problem, the 18th synoptic weather station is under construction in Ncojane. The event was held under the theme: Watching the weather to protect life and property - celebrating 50 years of World Weather Watch.END