03 Jun 2019

University of Botswana has joined efforts with four government departments to find the root cause of pollution at the Tati River.

The mission is also to find ways to address the situation.

Francistown assistant district commissioner, Ms Tebogo Hlabano said during a kgotla meeting addressed by Francistown West MP Mr Ignatius Moswaane recently that the departments, among them environmental affairs and that of waste management and pollution control on April 30 conducted an inspection at the river to find out the cause of pollution.

The river is inundated with reeds and dumping waste as it meanders through the high-density suburbs such as Monarch, Somerset, Bluetown and the industrial area, something that continues to be a cause for concern to the leadership of the city. 

She said the leadership was still awaiting the results of the site visit and issue a report on the outcome. 

Ms Hlabano was responding to one resident of Monarch who had complained about the challenges facing Tati River and their implications on water quality as well as the outbreak of waterborne diseases.

Meanwhile, Mr Moswaane advised residents to utilise government programmes such as Poverty Eradication programme, ISPAADD, Youth Development Fund, and LIMID to improve their lives. 

He explained that most of the programmes were for free and there was no reason why Batswana could not benefit from them.

Mr Moswaane  explained that the Poverty Eradication programme was an international programme, which Botswana started in 1999 under the Development Goals and now under the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr Moswaane refuted some media reports that the government was mismanaging public funds, saying public funds in Botswana were safe.

Mr Moswaane said government established oversight committees such as the Public Accounts Committee and the Auditor General.

Also, he explained that the opposition and the back benchers were also an oversight institution that was meant to promote democracy and transparency. 

Mr Moswaane, who is also the chairperson of the Finance and Estimate Committee, assured the residents that their funds were in good hands under the government of Botswana. 

Residents had earlier complained about high water bills and the congestion at the bus rank.

Others requested that a youth centre and radio station be established in Francistown.

They also requested  that Ipelegeng workers should be provided with protective clothing or be given protective clothing allowances. ENDS