19 Feb 2020

Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila says his ministry is aware of the intermittent water supply in Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency, particularly at the Lentsweletau-Kopong cluster of villages.

Mr Mzwinila said water supply shortages were experienced at Lentsweletau and Kopong, which were supplied from Sasakwe wellfield (15km north of Kopong; consisting of two boreholes; BH7958 and BH7959).

He said the Sasakwe wellfied also supplied Medie, Kweneng, Dikgatlhong and Ramankhung.

He added that the wellfield comprised of two electrically powered boreholes producing 1.8 million litres per day against a total all villages demand of 2.2 million litres per day.

He noted that the resultant deficit was 0.3 million litres per day for Kopong and 0.1 million litres per day for Lentsweletau while water demand for Medie, Kweneng, Dikgatlhong and Ramankhung was met.

He also indicated that in an attempt to address water supply challenges in Lentsweletau-Kopong, the ministry would install two standby generators at Sasakwe boreholes to maintain continuity of water supply during BPC power outage.

“The constituency experienced frequent power outage during rainy seasons. The project is at tender stage and is expected to be commissioned by June.”

Furthermore, he said the ministry was also aware that Gakuto was currently experiencing water supply shortages.

The three villages of Mmopane, Matseta and Gakuto, he said, were supplied from the Diremogolo reservoir which was part of the Mogoditshane reticulation network, while Mmopane and Matseta were also supplied through gravity from Diremogolo reservoir, adding that Matseta also had a backup supply BH7033.

He noted that the demand for Gakuto was 0.34 million litres per day.

He said the Diremogolo reservoir supplied 15 million litres per day to Mogoditshane cluster, and that out of the 15 million litres per day, 0.12 million litres per day was supplied to Gakutlo through the Matseta pump station.

He said the supply deficit at Gakuto was 0.22 million litres per day while the demand at Mmopane and Mmatseta was met whilst that of Gakuto was augmented through bowsing (0.042 million litres per day. “The root cause for water shortage at Lentsweletau-Kopong cluster is decline in borehole yield against growing demand.

My ministry is also aware that Gakuto village is currently experiencing water supply shortages caused by the limited pump station capacity and recurring power outages.

The power outages are due to Botswana Power Corporation maintenance activities.

This has resulted in supply deficit, particularly in areas on high grounds,” said the minister.

He also told Parliament that the ministry was currently implementing NSC connection to Kanye, and that demands for Lentsweletau-Kopong cluster were included during the designs as a long-term solution. He said the design included Lentsweletau-Kopong cluster to be supplied through the Ga-Mononyane pump station.

He said funds for implementation of connection of the cluster into Ga-Mononyane pump station could not be secured under NDP 11.

Additionally, he said the Kopong network rehabilitation and upgrading project was designed in 2011, but could not proceed to construction stage due to lack of funds, adding that the two projects would be proposed for funding under NDP 12.

The ministry, he said, had also commissioned a design and construction for Gakuto water project to address the supply limitations at the village at a contract sum of P8.9 million scheduled to be completed in June this year.

He noted that the project was awarded to CITROM Holdings (Pty) Ltd and that the project contract commenced on December 5 last year with the designs phase.

He added that a preliminary design was submitted for review leading to draft detailed design reports review on January 30 this year while the final drafted design was expected on the week ending February 21.

He said construction work was expected to start during the first week of March this year, and that the project ground-breaking would be in April or May this year.

Furthermore, he said the Gakuto water project (Gakuto pump station, transmission line and reservoir project) included the design and construction of a 0.2 mega litre collector tank, installation of a set of pumps that would be able to pump water to the existing 0.1 mega litres elevated GRP tank on the 15m elevation, construction of a 0.5 mega litre elevated village main tank and a 0.2 mega litre tank at Boseja ward.

The works, he said, also included upgrading of 8.2km of the 110mm diametre transmission line and installation of a standby generator to mitigate against power failures.

The MP for Letlhakeng-Lephepe, Mr Liakat Kablay had asked the minister if he was aware of the intermittent supply of water in the Lentsweletau-Mmopane constituency, particulary in the villages of Kopong, Mmatseta and Gakuto.

He also wanted the minister to state the root cause, and if there were plans to mitigate against the problem.

Also, he wanted the minister to give an update on the Gakuto water project, when ground-breaking and commencement of the project would be done, and to further give a brief on the project breakdown in terms of pumps, backup generator and line upgrade. ENDS