13 Jun 2021

Lobatse will get its maximum daily water requirement of 22 000 cubic metres after completion of the town’s Water Supply Master Plan project next year. 

The Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila, announced this on Thursday.

Speaking during a ground breaking ceremony for package two of the master plan project, Mr Mzwinila said the town currently had 15 600 cubic metres per day, which was a shortfall of 6 400 cubic metres. 

“This shortage of 6 400 cubic metres per day is a significant one, which is a major concern. This project, however, is going to provide a sustainable solution to this shortage of water experienced by Lobatse and surrounding villages,” said the minister.

He said the project would also boost water supply situations in Good Hope Sub-district’s villages of Good Hope, Pitsane, Digawana, Mogojogojo, Molapowabojang and Kgomokasitwa.  

The minister explained that the package two project encompassed construction of water infrastructure from Lobatse northern reservoir (situated between Otse and Lobatse) to Pioneer Border and Crescent Booster Station in Lobatse. 

“From Crescent Booster Station the water will be transmitted to villages in the Good Hope Sub-district,” he said. 

Mr Mzwinila said the project budget was P362.8 million, with a construction duration of 12 months. 

He said the project would be done by a joint venture between Weihai, BT and Magara companies, whom he urged to complete the project on time and within budget. 

He said package one of the master plan project encompassed construction of a pipeline from Gaborone to the Lobatse northern reservoir and its ground breaking would be done next week. 

Mr Mzwinila said, after completion of the Lobatse water master plan, his ministry would undertake construction of the Good Hope Water Master Plan.

The joint venture representative, Mr Xukun Song, said the scope of the project included refurbishment of Nnywane Pump Station, which would include installation of new pumps and motors as well as their electrical accessories.

“It also includes the review of existing Nnywane and Hillside pipeline in order to make it compatible to sustain the increased pressure from the refurbished pump station,” Mr Song said.

He further said they would construct a 25 kilometre pipeline of 500 diametre steel pipes to link the northern reservoir to the southern reservoir near Pioneer Border Post.  

He said they would also construct two reservoirs, one at Motswedi and the other at the southern part of Lobatse, which would also link to Woodhall, Motswedi and Hillside reservoirs.

“The other activity of the project we are doing is the network reinforcement of the existing pipelines that serves the households in Woodhall, Thema, Motswedi, Hillside and Peleng zones to make them able to withstand the expected increased pressures from the improved water supply system in the town,” he said. 

He said they would employ approximately 200 local people during the construction phase. 

 

Lobatse mayor, Mr Essop Pandor hailed the project as a significant step towards solving water problems in the town. ENDS