07 Nov 2017

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama said for the country to achieve long term water security, government is implementing the Botswana Emergency Water Security and Efficiency Project, and the project is expected to improve water availability and waste water management in 60 settlements.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address on November 6, President Khama said government was also reviewing water sector policies and legislation.

These, he said  included the revision of the 1968 Water Act and Borehole Act, the Development of the National Water Conservation and Demand Management Strategy and rolling out of the National Water Policy of 2016.

He said the construction of a pump station near Serorome Valley on the North-South Carrier (NSC-1) Scheme was ongoing with completion expected in April 2018, adding that this would increase the flow of water from Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong dams to Mmamashia Water Treatment Works from 66million to 116million litres per day, which would augment the supply of water throughout the South East.

Further, he said the second phase of the North–South Carrier Pipeline from Palapye to Mmamashia was expected to commence in November 2017, with the entire project scheduled for completion in November 2020, and the groundwater component of Masama West Well Field was completed in March with the associated infrastructure component, which has the capacity to inject up to 30 Mega Litres of ground water from the boreholes into the North-South Carrier a month.

The design for the upgrading of the Gaborone Water Master Plan, he said, was started in June and it would be part of the design and implementation of the water transfer pipeline from Mmamashia.

President Khama informed the nation that treatment works to Gaborone Water Treatment Works, whose completion is expected in 2018, would be capable of transferring water in either direction when the need arises.

“Along with Namibia and South Africa, we have undertaken an assessment of the Stampriet Trans-boundary Aquifer System, on the basis of which we are implementing the Matsheng Groundwater Development project that will develop sufficient potable groundwater to supply Kgalagadi North, as well as villages located in the Central, Southern and Ghanzi Districts,” he said.

With regards to sanitation and waste management, President Khama said government’s commitment to the provision of proper sanitation services was reflected in the close to P2 billion that was being invested in the upgrading of sanitation capacity.

That, he said, covered among others Francistown, Kanye and Molepolole.

He however said government was concerned that the industry was not fully compliant with the Trade Effluent Agreement and it was for this reason that government was in the process of reviewing the legislative framework.

According to President Khama a new National Waste Management Policy was being finalised, which stipulates roles and responsibilities of different players in the waste sector, while promoting value addition through its use.

“To meet international norm for the management of hazardous chemicals, Botswana is party to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Basel Convention on the Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and Minamata Convention on mercury,” he said. ENDS