21 Feb 2016

Parliament has been informed that most of the city dwellers in Self-Help Housing Agency (SHHA) areas are living below minimum wage rate (under employed) and below poverty datum line.

Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said this on behalf of Minister of Mineral Energy and Water Resources in Parliament.

Mr Molefhi said Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has discontinued pit latrine and septic tank emptying services, but only in those areas that have a sewer reticulation network.

The sewer reticulation networks are being provided in different areas through a project which is currently being rolled out in various cities, towns and villages in the country, he added.

The minister said through this project, government aims to eradicate pit latrines and septic tanks in all SHHA areas, which are still the ones without sewer reticulation in some towns.

He said this is being done in quest to health issues and possible contamination of ground water sources.

He said the ministry therefore encourages all residents in areas where the sewer network has been provided to connect to the network.

In addition, Mr Molefhi said the provision of sewer lines in all areas, especially SHHA areas is meant to develop the cities, towns and villages in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as to ensure the dignity of people by providing them with proper sanitation.

He said WUC has charges applicable for its various services and that the cooperation took over waste water management from district councils under the Waste Sector Reforms Project which effect from 2012.

Mr Molefhi said at the time of the takeover, the sewerage connection charge was P60 and the application fees for the pit latrines and septic tank emptying were P100 and P40 respectively.

These fees, he said, were subsequently revised to P600 for pit latrine emptying and P500 for septic tank emptying and P1 500 for sewerage connection for purposes of cost recovery.

He added in areas where waste water networks have been provided the public is encouraged to connect to the network and eliminate the need for regular pit latrine and or septic tank emptying.

Mr Molefhi further told Parliament that WUC was not the only provider of such services and that it should be noted that open market charges were taken into consideration in setting WUC and the corporation’s charges were pitched lower than market charges to make them more affordable.

MP for Francistown West, Mr Ignatius Moswaane had wanted to know if the minister is aware that most of the city dwellers in SHHA areas are living below minimum wage rate and below poverty datum line.

He also wanted to know whether the corporation is planning to phase out provision of sewerage trucks to empty septic tanks in all the cities and towns.  ENDS