16 Oct 2018

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says government has secured a P1.5 billion loan from the World Bank to address water shortage in the country. 

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Molepolole on October 16, President Masisi said the funds would benefit a number of villages including Molepolole. 

In addition, he said government had acquired an additional P10.2 billion from the Chinese government to be used in various infrastructure developments. 

The bulk of the money would go towards construction of  new roads across the country, from which Bakwena stood to benefit, he said.

Dr Masisi said the congested Molepolole-Gaborone Road, A12, was to be developed into a dual carriageway.

President Masisi expressed concern about some Batswana who inflated prices when  government had to compensate them for their plots. 

The president said NDP 11 was due for midterm review next year which meant some projects might be given priority over others. 

Meanwhile Dr Masisi said  government remained committed to creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive in order to create employment.

He said government expenditure should also create employment opportunities both short and long term. 

The president expressed concern that the Economic Diversification Drive and Citizen Economic Empowerment were not bringing the desired results as a number of departments still procured goods outside the country. 

Talking about the relationship between China and Botswana, the president said it should not be regarded as colonialism but as two countries sharing a friendship. 

He said in the addition to the P10.2 billion, the Chinese government had awarded Botswana a P340 million grant. 

Dr Masisi said government was working towards luring Chinese tourists into the country saying not only were they wealthy but they also had the population.

For his part, Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Kitso Mokaila said his ministry was working on Molepolole-Gaborone dual carriageway compensation packages. 

He said about 197 properties had been affected including water and sewage pipelines as well as power cables.

Minister Mokaila said research indicated that only 18 per cent of vehicles utilising A12 passed to Letlhakeng therefore the dual carriageway would end in Molepolole. 

Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Mr Kefentse Mzwinila said a number of initiatives were being undertaken to address the water situation in Molepolole. 

He said plans were underway to connect Thamaga to the North South Carrier (NSC) to release the shared boreholes for Molepolole’s sole use.

The World Bank loan would be used to increase the number of boreholes feeding Molepolole, he said adding that the village would  eventually be connected to the NSC via Mmamashia. 

The Department of Water Affairs had 13 idle boreholes and plans were to feed them into the existing infrastructure. ENDS