29 Jun 2017

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila says the Serule Cluster Water Project will address the water shortage problem experienced in Mmadinare and surrounding areas.

Mr Mzwinila said this addressing a kgotla meeting in Mmadinare recently.

He said the project entails sourcing water from Letsibogo Dam via the Selebi Phikwe water plant to villages in the area that include Serule, Damochujenaa, Moreomabele as well as Mmadinare.

He said the project would include setting up a water pipeline network from the Selebi Phikwe reservoir to the respective villages.

He said the project would be financed through a P1.6 billion loan obtained by government from the World Bank.

He explained that out of the total amount sourced from the World Bank, P200 million will be utilized to fund the water project.

He indicated that the designed stage of the project had been completed.

He mentioned that though the project was costly and would take a while to complete, the project will benefit Mmadinare and villages in the area on a long term basis.

However he said it will take 19 years to repay the World Bank loan.

He went on to explain that Mmadinare had been experiencing water shortages because the village had grown in population while the village reservoir and water pipeline network from Selebi Phikwe were not upgraded to handle demand capacity.

Regarding the project to upgrade Mmadinare village internal roads, Mr Mzwinila said funds had not been availed at this point in time.

He explained that government made it a priority to source out funds to address the water problem and will handle the upgrading of internal roads when more funds are available.

On other issues, Mr Mzwinila said the project to expand the Mmadinare hospital was in progress. He said the project was at the design stage. 

He also touched on the constituency development fund where he noted that selected projects due to be undertaken in Mmadinare had been submitted at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for consideration and approval.

He said response from the ministry regarding projects due to be undertaken under the programme will be availed in August after which projects will commence.

He said the selected projects under the constituency development fund do not make part of the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), National Development Plan or District Development Plan.

Meanwhile, the Village Development Committee representative Mr Motshegi Tukisi acknowledged government for introducing the constituency development fund.

He also acknowledged government programmes such as LIMID, ESP, Poverty Eradication Programme and Youth Development Fund among others explaining that the programmes had had a positive impact on the lives of many people in the village.

For his part, Bobirwa Sub -district Council chairperson Mr Sylvestor Masweu who is also councillor for Mmadinare-Robelela, acknowledged government for the projects earmarked to take place in the area.

He commended MP Mzwinila for advocating and convincing government to undertake such development projects in Mmadinare and surrounding villages. ENDS