23 Jun 2013

In an effort to address challenges and have their stakeholders appreciate progress made since their takeover of water supply, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) took various villages leadership through a tour of their infrastructure on June 18.               

Briefing the village leadership of the villages under the Francistown management centre, the general manager Ms Keataretse Machete said as the sole water service provider in the country, they found it appropriate to invite their stakeholders and share with them progress they have made and challenges they are facing.                 

Ms Machete highlighted that since their takeover of some villages, among them Tati Siding, Shashemooke, Chadibe/Borolong, Mathangwane and Semotswane/Mandunyane that were merged into their jurisdiction, they experienced a number of water supply and distribution challenges.

She however informed them that so far with regards to the supply issues, they have made progress by increasing supply to some villages, which had experienced challenges, noting that the situation has improved in some areas such as in Tati Siding where the water pressure had been low.

Furthermore, Ms Machete said they had to install a bigger water supply pipe because the initial one was smaller and could not accommodate enough water and constantly blasted due to pressure.                   

She noted that although they had managed to replace some pipes, water distribution is not yet at the expected standard and they are working around the clock to complete the reticulation network of Tati Siding new stance, which was inherited from North East District Council (NEDC).               

The general manager informed them that as a corporation, they are also faced with financial constraints just like other departments and as such they had to request funds under the emergency funding during the 2012/2013 financial.

Their intention was to implement three major projects in their area to advance water supply in some villages as a starting point to improve the water service under emergency project funding. 

Among such projects, she said, were conversion of conventional public stand pipes to prepaid and noted that consultations have been done with village authorities and conversions are completed in Tonota, Borolong and Tati Siding.

In addition, Ms Machete added that power load shedding has been affecting water supply, and as such they have made arrangements to connect the said areas to the main interconnecting pump from Shashe dam treatment works, which supplies the greater Francistown and surrounding areas.

Appreciating the efforts made by the corporation to improve water supply, headman of More ward in Tonota, Mr Kgosidialwa Moalosi said they appreciate consultations with the community, but said changes come with their own share of challenges.

He said they should be ready to tackle any issues that may arise, particularly on the conversion of public stand pipes to prepaid.ENDS