31 Aug 2021

 Lack of water at the newly established Qhorotsha settlement is reported to be a major challenge delaying relocation exercise.

The exercise was planned to have commenced early last year up to  February this year but derailed due to shortage of water in the area. North West district commissioner, Mr Keolopile Leipego confirmed in an interview that shortage of water remained a serious challenge to relocation exercise at Qhorotsha settlement.

He said initially, a borehole was identified, drilled and equipped but it later collapsed and efforts were made to survey another one with no success.

Currently, he said a team comprising of experts from department of Water Affairs, traditional surveyors and some identified leadership from the settlement were at the area to survey another borehole.

Mr Leipego was hopeful that the efforts would bear fruit as it was reported that they had found another borehole some 15 kilometres away from the settlement.

Besides lack of water in the area, he stated that a lot of developments had been undertaken at the area citing completion of 18 housing units for destitute people, construction of cattle kraals and loading ramp.

He also highlighted that mobilisation and assessment had been completed, adding that efforts had also been made to engage and apprise residents about challenges encountered.

Mr Leipego appealed to residents to exercise patience as relevant authorities were doing everything in their power to finalise all logistics and speed up the relocation exercise.

The settlement is situated on the western side of Kareng village, some 30km away from Qabo settlement in the Ghanzi district. 

It was conceived as a Presidential decision to enable its dwellers to  access basic services in the Rural Area Dwellers (RADs) category.

The settlement will accommodate 341 people, who are currently squatting in the Qhorotsha area around boreholes/cattleposts of Splanplek, Romane, Mathomahibidu, Xoga, Kawekeno and Masogwana. ends