07 Aug 2016

 Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila, told Parliament on Friday that Notwane Dam is within the Gaborone Dam catchment area and acts as a silt trap for the Gaborone Dam, thus reducing accumulation of silt in the dam, which can ultimately reduce capacity.

He said even though the dam was initially planned for water supply, it was now used for irrigation purposes.

Mr Mokaila said as per records, the dam was constructed by government through public works department and was still owned by government.

He further said the existing water right was initially wholly owned by the government, and was later transferred to Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) in 1975 whilst 0.04MCM/annum was allocated to farmers who owned the land around the dam for domestic and irrigation purpose.

Mr Mokaila said the remaining 0.06MCM/annum was allocated to South Africa. 

He further said the existing water rights added up to 0.68 MCM which is equal to the potential extractable resource as dictated by the dam yield.

As such, he said there was no possibility of issuing new water rights over and above the existing water rights since all that could be potentially extracted had been allocated.

Mr Mokaila further said from field investigations carried out by the Department of Water Affairs, there was no evidence of trucks that draw water from the dam. He said as per Waterworks Act, WUC was the only entity that could sell water.

He however said if the public is aware of anyone who is illegally drawing  water from the dam, they should contact or report to the relevant authorities.

Mr Mokaila was responding to Ramotswa MP, Mr Samuel Rantuana who wanted to know who owned the dam and how it was acquired.

Mr Rantuana also wanted to know if the trucks that draw water from the dam were buying it or the water was drawn illegally. ENDS