01 Sep 2013

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has advised the youth to take advantage of low bills charged by Water Utilities Corporation (WUC). The President said this during kgotla meetings at Mabeleapodi and Ditimamodimo in the Serowe North West constituency last week.

Residents decried high water bills despite shortage of water, saying it discouraged them from embarking on poverty eradication programmes. However, President Khama noted that the corporation charged P17.50 per five cubic meters or roughly 25 200 litre drums of water. He said the low prices were due to the fact that small businesses were charged lower than bigger ones.

On the issue of high water bills, the President advised residents to visit WUC offices as the corporation had previously said the delay in issuance of bills was mainly due to problems with its printing equipment. On other issues, President Khama appealed to residents, pastors and churches to pray for rain, and to thank God when it comes.

He said starting from September people should gather at dikgotla and churches to pray for rain. He noted that the government had declared 2013 a drought year. For his part WUC regional operations director, Mr Meshack Balebetse said some parts of the central region were experiencing shortage of water, but blamed some residents for tempering with water pipes to water their livestock.

Mr Balebetse said the region was experiencing shortage of water because some people had broken the water pipeline near Radisele to create a watering hole. He appealed to resident to desist from damaging the pipeline.

On high water bills, he confirmed that the corporation had problems with its printing equipment, but assured residents the problem has been solved. He urged those who were still not receiving bills to visit the nearest WUC office. ENDS