23 Nov 2017

There is acute shortage of water in the Shashe West Constituency, especially in the villages of Marapong, Semitwe, Marobela, Mafungo-Hubona, Nshakazhogwe, Borolong, Jamataka and Makobo.

Answering a question in Parliament from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nata/Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga, Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi explained that the villages were supplied from different schemes.

He said the villages of Marapong, Semitwe, Marobela, Mafungo-Hubona and Nshakazhogwe were part of the Ntimbale cluster, whilst the villages of Borolong, Natale, Jamataka and Makobo were supplied from Shashe Dam cluster through Francistown under the Mathangwane Water Transfer Scheme.

Mr Moipisi said water shortage was exacerbated by the pumping system of these two clusters, adding  that the pumping infrastructure had limited capacity to meet the demand.

Minister Moipisi said as a long term measure, his ministry had secured funds under the World Bank loan to address the Ntimbale cluster through the on-going North East District and Tutume Sub-district Water project.

He said the water  project was at procurement phase and construction works were expected to start in August next year.

In addition, Mr Moipisi said a budget had been secured to carry out the design review and tender documentation for the upgrading of Mathangwane Water Transfer Scheme, which he said was at planning stage while tendering was expected to commence by mid-December this year.

MP Majaga had asked the Minister if he was aware of the acute water shortage in the Shashe West constituency, especially in the villages of Marapong, Semitwe, Marobela, Mafungo-Hubona, Nshakazhogwe, Borolong, Jamataka and Makobo.

He had also wanted the minister to explain the long term measures put in place to address the problem. ENDS