15 Nov 2021

Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and Namibia Water Corporation (NAMWATER) have signed letter of intent to mark their collaboration on water issues.

The letter was signed by two entities’ chief executive officers, Messrs Gaselemogwe Senai and Abraham Nehemiah at the end of two-day benchmarking exercise by NAMWTER delegation to Gaborone on Friday.

The letter signed, forms part of the MoU that would be signed by the two entities.

The collaboration includes possible capacity building and attachment initiatives, benchmarking on key business processes, skills sharing and exchange programmes.

Speaking after the signing exercise, NAMWATER CEO, Mr Nehemiah said objective for benchmarking was to explore  ways the two corporations could assist each other. 

He noted that intention was to have a long term collaboration in terms of finding solutions to water challenges that faced the two water supply entities.

“We have learnt a lot in Botswana and we will take a lot with us back home that will help us strategise and make sure we work towards achieving sustainable water supply to our country,” he stated.

He said the letter of intent was meant to ensure that the cooperation was enhanced, adding that NAMWATER would reciprocate by arranging for Botswana delegation to visit Namibia.

“We can then do cross fertilisation of ideas on how to look at more integrated water supplies networks and systems,” he stated.

Mr Nehemiah said already there were discussions about possibility of sourcing water from Namibian Coast from Atlantic Ocean to Windhoek and further to Gaborone.

He stated that the collaboration would further ensure that the two countries had enough water and in the long run enhance the SADC economic integration.

For his part, Mr Senai said the letter of intent would set the right platform and framework for future collaboration and agreements.

He concurred with Mr Nehemiah that they were exploring prospects of getting water from the Atlantic Ocean through a pipeline that crossed the two countries to the western side of country and greater Gaborone.

“We are also exploring other possibilities through the Chobe/Zambezi River to get 497 cubic metres of water per annum which we are readying ourselves to tap into,” he stated.

Mr Senai said the long-term water security strategies were meant to address massive water divide and deficit projected for 2029 as currently nine dams in the country could only carry water up to 2029.

“That is why there is discourse to see long-term water plan in water security for the country and at national level, the tone has been set by two heads of state and ministries responsible for water in the two countries,” he said.

Prior to signing ceremony, the delagation toured the Masama boreholes and Gaborone Dam to appreciate infrastructure and how distribution of water to different parts of greater Gaborone was conducted. 

The delegation also visited the Artesia kgotla to appreciate water reticulation at local level and how those without standpipes at homes were assisted. ENDS