17 Sep 2020

North East District councilors have requested Water Utilities Corporation to facilitate the contractor of the North East / Tutume Sub District water scheme project to employ locals from villages where the project is carried out.

Speaking at the ongoing full council session on September 16 , Councilor for Moroka ward Mr Vincent Mooketsi queried that the project contractor brought his manpower hence not offering any employment opportunities to locals.

Councilor Bakani Badzili of Siviya ward said the expectation was that when a contractor carried out a project in a district, locals from that district would benefit temporary employment for the duration of the project.

However he thanked government for the project, noting that upon its completion water shortage would be a thing of the past.

He further requested that WUC should give them a project scope for them to appreciate it d.

Councilor Badzili asked WUC to state why the Siviya borehole was not functional though it was electrified recently.

Tshesebe ward councilor Smarts Mathonsi inquired on what was causing the delays of the electrification of Vukwi, Moroka, Siviya and Butale boreholes.

Responding to questions from councilors, WUC Masunga office general manager, Mr Boitumelo Legwaila stated that the corporation was awaiting Botswana Power Corporation to conduct final inspections on the works to be done at the boreholes.

However, he stated that with regard to Moroka borehole, it had been successfully electrified but its use was suspended while waiting for experts to carry out water tests first.

He said when the borehole was activated to start pumping water they realised that the water was not pure hence shut it down temporarily to clean the water.

Mr Legwaila highlighted that Unik Construction Engineering employed a total of 97 people with 88 being Batswana.

However he said they had not categoried the manpower according to villages where they originated but according to their nationalities.

Moreover he said they expected the number of labourers to increase as the project progressed when the need for more labour force arose.

The general manager indicated that the contractor had consulted with all villages where the water works would be carried out upon which liaison person were appointed in all those villages to facilitate communication between community and the contractor.

Mr Legwaila explained that the project entailed the construction of concrete reservoirs at Masingwaneng, Kalakamati and Mbalambi villages, booster pump stations at Kalakamati and Moroka and upgrading of pumps at Masingwaneng and Mbalambi pump stations.

He further pointed out that it encompassed elevated water tanks at Moroka, Ramokgwebana, Jackalas 1, Jackalas 2, Tsamaya and Makaleng villages.

The project commenced in March 2020 and the construction is expected to last 17 months. ENDS