24 Jun 2021

The P279 million Mahalapye Water Treatment Plant Expansion project is reportedly progressing at an impressive pace.

  Speaking during a site visit on Wednesday, Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila expressed gratitude for the progress amid COVID-19 pandemic challenges.

Mr Mzwinila noted that as at May, overall progress was 87.69 per cent against the planned 89.25 per cent with expenditure standing at more than P147 million.

He said the project’s objective was to build a bigger, improved and reliable water treatment plant for Mahalapye West, Mahalapye East, Shoshong and Sefhare/Ramokgonami constituencies.

It also aimed to increase water supply from the current 18 mega litres per day to 36 mega litres, he said.

The minister said its  scope included design, supply and installation, construction and commissioning of the plant and major concrete water retaining structures.

Once completed, the plant would continue treating water from North/South Carrier 1 at half capacity, he said adding that its full benefits would be realised after implementation of North/South Carrier 2 which was currently at procurement stage.

Giving an overview of the project, which commenced in 2019 and set for completion this December, China State Construction Engineering Corporation construction manager, Mr Wang Chao promised it would be completed and handed over on time. 

He stated that the project’s cash flow was healthy with Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) paid on time as per schedule.

Mr Wang said the project had employed 135 people only eight of whom were non-citizens. 

He said the company was upholding the localisation principle in its procurement and subcontracting procedures to support local companies and service providers.

“All our civil materials were procured in Botswana and mostly from Mahalapye suppliers. So far, the overall percentage of local supplier and subcontractor is 37 per cent, which is still increasing as the project progresses,” he stated.

 MPs David Tshere and Aubrey Lesaso of Mahalapye West and Shoshong respectively encouraged the contractor’s site agent, Mr Thomas Muroyiwa, to ensure the company’s promised corporate social responsibility projects were completed timeously. Ends