22 Feb 2018

The implementation of the Sowa water supply master plan will commence during the 2018/19 financial year, says Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi. Mr Moipisi said the procurement process for the design review commenced in January 2018 with the drafting of terms of reference within the ministry. These, he said, would be forwarded to the World Bank for vetting by March 2018. “It is therefore anticipated that consultant for design review and documentation will be procured by May 2018,” he added.

He said construction works for the infrastructure upgrade were planned to start after the completion of the process. He highlighted that all milestones would follow the same route of vetting as per the loan agreement requirements. In an effort to address the water shortage at Sowa/Nata cluster, Mr Moipisi said the rehabilitation and equipping of four boreholes had commenced, and that cleaning had been completed and awaiting testing. Mr Moipisi noted that procurement for equipping boreholes and construction of water storage tanks would commence immediately after satisfactory water quality test results, which would be followed by the construction of a two kilometre pipeline and a 500 cubic metre tank on a 15 metre stand. The project, he said, was anticipated to deliver water by September 2018. 

Nata/Gweta Member of Parliament, Mr Polson Majaga had asked the minister to state when the Sowa water supply master plan would commence as there was serious water shortage in both Sowa/Nata cluster villages and schools. Ends