08 Mar 2020

Availability of land and potable water were key issues when parliamentarians debated budget proposals for the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services in Parliament on March 5.

Member of Parliament for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao, said he was grateful his constituents would eventually be fed portable water through a project funded by the World Bank, adding that villages such as Marapong would benefit.

He however said people were faced with exorbitant water bills and called for the introduction of smart meters.

MP Molao said boarding schools should be provided with boreholes to rescue them from acute water shortages.

Nata/Gweta legislator, Mr Polson Majaga said the ministry was underfunded, given its task of providing water to every corner of the country and also allocating land.

He said his constituency faced shortage of water and he did not understand what happened to the dam earmarked to be built in his constituency.

For his part, MP for Thamaga-Kumakwane, Mr Palelo Motaosane wondered how Kumakwane could be facing water shortage when the village together with Gabane form part of the Greater Gaborone area and therefore connected to the North South Carrier Pipeline.

MP Motaosane accused land board members of criminal activities which lead to shortage of land.

He suggested that board members allowances should be increased, saying this might be the reason they engage in illicit land dealings.

MP Motaosane said when Mogoditshane Sub-land Board tried to offer compensation in kind, the arrangement got out of hand as board members, using inside information, bought several arable fields to re-sell at exorbitant prices.

He further said the right candidates should be appointed as chairpersons of land boards.

MP Aubrey Lesaso of Shoshong said water pipes had not been maintained resulting in leakages.

He further said water services should be decentralised, especially in the remote areas like Mokgenene, where Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) was not making profits.

Dr Never Tshabang of Nkange said the Revised Land Policy of 2019 made it expensive for Batswana to fill unallocated plots due to its stringent rules.

Meanwhile, MP for Mmathethe-Molapowabojang, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, said he was happy the Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems would continue this year, adding he was glad the private sector was engaged, which resulted with employment opportunities and economic empowerment.

Kgalagadi North MP, Ms Talitha Monnakgotla said the four boarding schools in her constituency were faced with frequent power outages, adding that they depend solely on water bowsers and called for long term solutions.

MP Monnakgotla also said the councils should be given the task of providing water to rural communities.

MP Thulagano Sekgokgo of Tlokweng said people should be encouraged to build up, rather than acquire huge chunks of land in Gaborone.

He further said Tlokweng Land Board was not able to allocated plots as land had not been serviced.

Maun West MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando asked the minister to update Parliament on the water project earmarked for Maun following a court case over awarding of tenders.

He further wanted the minister to make a follow up on pronouncements made by the president that land in tourism concession areas would be reserved for citizens. ENDS