15 Feb 2021

The MP for Molepolole South, Mr Kabo Morwaeng says storm water drainage needs to be attended to as a matter of urgency in Molepolole.

Mr Morwaeng, who is also Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration said this after touring his constituency to assess the devastating effects of the recent heavy rains on Saturday. 

In particular, MP Morwaeng visited homes of families that were severely affected by recent rains as well as internal roads in the constituency.

He also noted that there was need for thorough assessment of landscape before infrastructure such as roads, residential and business plots, among others, were demarcated and issued to the public.  He observed that certain areas were more susceptible to floods than others.

The tour highlighted, among others, that some roads and homes were built on top of natural water bodies leading to disastrous situations during rainy seasons.  Mr Morwaeng therefore emphasised that together with local authorities such as council and land boards as well as at Parliament level, they would hasten to attend to this situation.  He however acknowledged shortage of resources as a result of COVID-19 as a challenge to the provision of remedial action by government.

He mentioned Mokgopeetsane, Sebele and Lekgwapheng wards as areas most affected by the recent downpours.

Kweneng District commissioner, Ms Berenice Berman-Mosime also shared the sentiments with MP Morwaeng, citing that during rainy seasons some areas in Molepolole overflow due to lack of proper storm water drainage system.  

She said as a result some people ended up being homeless.  So far she said some affected families had been assisted by disaster committee with food and tents.  

The only challenge they had was shortage of resources such as tents as beneficiaries took time to return loaned equipment on time for the committee to assist others as the need arose, she noted.

Councillor for Mokgopeetsane, Ms Keamogetse Keikanne said the rainy season was a nightmare to residents as water flew from hills and ended up forming streams and ponds in people’s yards, making movement difficult for them.

 Some people, she said, had damaged property and their houses had cracked due to stagnant water after heavy rains.

She pleaded with the council authorities to grade internal roads in the area to ease movement.

Ms Okana Molose, a resident of Sebele ward, whose home was badly affected by the heavy rains, said the situation was so dire when it rained because their home was built in an area that used to be a natural water resource.

 She said because residential plots were hard to find they did not have any other option.  

She also mentioned that her children were forced to walk through the water in order for them to go to school every morning while the rest of the family was trapped inside houses. Ends