28 Jun 2020

Okavango Sub-district leadership has hailed efforts by Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to engage them on new water development project in their locality, as such encourages ownership. 

  They expressed the appreciation  during a recent WUC stakeholder engagement meeting aimed at introducing the new project and the contractor awarded tender for the Gumare package water treatment plant. 

The plant is expected to improve water supply situation in Gumare and its peripheries.

They said stakeholder engagement was critical as it encouraged ownership, support of the decision taken and also ensured improved risk management and better outcomes on the ground.

Okavango sub-council chairperson, Mr Mpoke Karapo said stakeholder engagement was key in any project and thanked the corporation for taking them on board.

He said they long awaited the project as water crisis was of great concern across the sub-district citing Gumare as the most hard hit area.

The water situation in the village, he said caused friction between residents and political leadership, noting that residents accused political leaders of not taking their issues into consideration as they stayed weeks without water while on the other hand many businesses collapsed.

While Mr Karapo appreciated that the corporation was working tirelessly to address the challenge, he however said that was not adequate as some areas continued to experience low water pressure to no water supply. 

He said as leadership, one of their priorities was to address water shortage in the sub-district but appreciated that the corporation was step ahead in addressing water concerns.

He called on the corporation to minimise water supply disruptions while implementation was ongoing. 

Okavango deputy district commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka welcomed the project noting that it would meet the residents’ water demand. 

He concurred that residents of Gumare and surrounding villages had long suffered and wished the contractor could fast track the project implementation to address water concern.

“We now put our trust in him and hope he will deliver according to specification as he promised,” he added.

Earlier on, WUC head of business centre, Mr Thabo Ndadi said the corporation acknowledged the role of the community in the smooth operation of the water services.

The corporation, he said valued consultation process as it afforded them opportunity to interact, hear feedback and advice from stakeholders in order to improve their operation.

He also appreciated that the community continued to play a part in the conservation of water by reporting leakages, complying to restrictions and using water for essential use.

Mr Ndadi acknowledged that Gumare and surrounding villages experienced acute water shortage and vandalism of water infrastructure exacerbated the situation adding that areas of further engagement included the community policing. 

He called on leadership and other stakeholders to join forces with the corporation to promote water conservation. 

He also noted that the corporation enjoyed a successful partnership with the community and other government departments during the COVID-19 lockdown.

To date, he said the corporation had successfully reconnected 3287 households in Maun and also ensured minimal disruption of water supply through bowsing. 

Mr Ndadi appealed to customers to continue using various payment options to settle their water bills as the corporation needs funds to continue with its operation.

He stated that the debt level in the region stood at P45 million. ENDS