24 Nov 2019

Parliament has been informed that consultations are ongoing on the modalities of assisting Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) with the operation and maintenance services through the use of existing local structures such as district councils.

The Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Mr Kefentse Mzwinila said consultations were between his ministry and that of local government and rural development  to consider all possible options, including decentralization of rural water supply operation and maintenance services under WUC.

He said focus would be more on remote areas, where WUC faced difficulties in operating and maintaining the rural water supply.

Mr Mzwinila said at the moment, he was not in a position to state as to when such assistance from existing local structures would happen since consultations were at a formative state.

Notwithstanding his ministry’s consultations, with that of local government on the possibility of using existing local structures, Mr Mzwinila said WUC was also restructuring to bring about the necessary improvements in service delivery.

The minister said they were also working on finalising the National Decentralisation Policy by the ministry of local government, which was expected to be completed during the current financial year.

Furthermore, Mr Mzwinila said his ministry was on the midst of a technical study on the modalities of decentralising distribution from reticulation and bulk water supply.

Shoshong legislator, Mr Aubrey Lesaso had asked the minister to explain why his ministry could not decentralise rural water supply from that of major villages, towns and cities for ease of operation and maintenance services under WUC to district councils in light of the difficulties the corporation was facing in operating and maintaining them. ENDS