06 Dec 2016

Government has established a programme management office (PMO) to oversee implementation of major energy and water projects, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has said.

Delivering a State-of-the-Nation Address in Gaborone on Monday (December 5), President Khama indicated that design of the project management methodology and processes had been completed, while institutionalisation of the methodology was ongoing.

He also noted that government had finalised a comprehensive assessment of the national water supply.

He added that implementation of the associated infrastructure for both Dikgatlhong and Lotsane dams had also been completed while associated infrastructure component for Thune Dam, which included construction of a Water Treatment Plant and distribution pipelines to 10 villages in the Bobirwa Sub District was progressing.

Again, President Khama said connection and supply for villages in the Bobirwa Sub District was being implemented with the second phase of the North South Carrier Scheme.

The section of the pipeline that terminates in Palapye, he said, was complete and being trial operated.

So far, he added, reliability of water supply to the Greater Gaborone catchment area had considerably improved.

Further, he indicated that the tender for the construction of the pump station near Serorome Valley on the NSC-1 Scheme had also been awarded and was expected to be completed in 2018.

Over the years, he said water demand in Greater Gaborone area had greatly increased due to development.

That, President Khama added, had necessitated the connection of major villages surrounding Gaborone to the NSC scheme, including the Mmamashia-Kanye NSC connection project, which commenced in August 2014 and will be completed in February next year.

President Khama further indicated that other initiatives to improve water supply and sanitation in the country included Maun Water Supply and Sanitation Phase II project, Kanye and Molepolole Sanitation project, Seronga/Gudigwa water supply project and Shakawe Water Treatment Plant project.

He noted that the Maun Water Supply and Sanitation Phase II project was progressing and should be completed in April 2020.

In the meantime, President Khama said, remedial works to mitigate the current shortages had been awarded for short term initiatives due for completion next May 2017.

He also indicated that construction of the Shakawe Water Treatment Plant was scheduled for completion in April 2018, while the Seronga/Gudigwa project completion was expected in May.

The Masama West groundwater development project, he said, was expected to be completed in March next year.

Further, he said due diligence and design review processes for the Chobe-Zambezi water transfer scheme would also be completed by the end of the current financial year.

He also indicated that government was exploring the potential of water transfers with neighbouring states.

He said the Lesotho Highlands Feasibility Study’s findings confirmed that it was viable to transfer water from Lesotho to Botswana.

“Both countries, along with South Africa, have agreed that further investigations to determine the possible options for the transfer, as well as related socio-economic and environmental issues, should be done. We are also exploring the feasibility of drawing water from aquifers along our borders with Namibia and South Africa,” he said. ENDS