21 Aug 2019

The government is working tirelessly to find a long term solution to the water crisis experienced across many parts on the country.

This was said by Member of Parliament for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao when responding to concerns raised by Kgosi Tendani Manyiwa, during a kgotla meeting at Mafhungo/Hubona village on August 20.

Kgosi Manyiwa said they experienced severe water shortage even though they were within the vicinity of Mathangwane and Gulubane, which had stable water supply.

He further stated that there were two public standpipes located in different parts of the village, which never dry up, while the rest of the village does.

Mr Molao said processes to start the Ntimbale water reticulation project, which would be funded through a loan from the World Bank, were almost complete as companies that had shown interest had already gone for site visits.

He said the project, which would cost about P140 million would help in addressing water shortage for almost all the villages that are faced with the challenge in his constituency as well as Nkange and Tati East constituencies.

Furthermore, he revealed that the recent water crisis was caused by elephants, which had destroyed pipes at Maitengwe wellfields that currently water the Tutume sub-district

Mr Molao, also minister of agricultural development and food security, appealed to the residents to be patient and await a long term solution, which the government was working on.

He also cautioned them against fetching potable water for their livestock, adding that some even cut water pipes to water their livestock, which exacerbates the water shortage across the villages.

On the bad state of the A3 road, Mr Molao said funds had been secured to repair it, highlighting that so far, a feasibility study had been.

He added that damaged portions of the Nata/Gweta road had been repaired, thus improving the state of the road.

Mr Molao also said that some severely damaged portions of the Francistown/Mathangwane road had been repaired using interlocking bricks. ENDS