07 Jun 2018

Kweneng District councillors on June 5 expressed unhapiness over reports that  the area will only be connected to the North South Carrier (NSC) water project in 2034.

The council also learnt through the Ministry of Land Management Water and Sanitation Services (MLWS), Project Management Office deputy director, Mr Gabalemogwe Moanakwena that if their implementation strategy of combining the water supply distribution network rehabilitation project with the sanitation project went according to plan, construction would commence in 2020 and be completed in 2024.

Councillors expressed disappointment that Kweneng District was sidelined given the fact that Molepolole, one of the biggest villages in the country was still under-developed.

With the absence of crucial infrastructure such as road network and water reticulation, councillors concurred that there was no way the village would cope with a surge in population emanating from the city, let alone attract foreign investment.

Nominated councillor, Mr Motlhophi Leo said the situation in Molepolole was appalling. He demanded to know what happened to the money that was borrowed from the World Bank to address water situation in the country.

He said water projects in Molepolole were always pushed back adding “what must we do to have things done accordingly in our district?”

Lentsweletau West Cllr, Mr Botokanyana Motoroko shared the sentiments with other councillors raising a concern that it was taking long to bring water to the area.

On other issues some councillors suggested that Water Utilities Corporation should contemplate hiring operators from the villages they operate in because it was evident that the corporation had serious shortage of staff.

Briefing councillors earlier about water supply programmes in the village, Mr Moanakwena said Molepolole water supply distribution network rehabilitation and expansion would specifically deal with rehabilitation of the existing water supply distribution network and expansion to areas that were not serviced.

It is hoped the project will reduce water losses from 43 per cent to 15 per cent.

Project funding, Mr Moanakwena said, was secured under NDP 11 and preparations for construction were underway.

For Molepolole-Mononyane NSC connection, Mr Moanakwena informed the house that designs were completed in 2011 but due to insufficient funding, it was deferred to allow the construction of Mmamashia-Kanye NSC connection which would supply Kanye, Moshupa and Thamaga.

He stressed that by connecting Thamaga, Molepolole would have additional water supply.

Molepolole sanitation project he said would involve construction of a waterborne wastewater system.

He said due to unavailability of Digital Terrain Model (DTM) to assist with the designs, the design review was halted until DTM was completed.

He added that funding for the project was also secured under NDP 11.

However, Mr Moanakwena highlighted that his ministry was exploring a plan to combine water supply distribution network rehabilitation project with the sanitation project.

The plan, he said would avoid conflicts that might arise from having a number of consultants and contractors working in the same area. ENDS