26 Jul 2022

Members of Parliament on Friday July 22 made contributions toward a motion that seeks government to consider providing clean drinking water to rural communities in farm lands, ungazetted settlements and cattle post. 

The motion was tabled by Ngami MP, Mr Kainangura Hikuama.

Supporting the motion, Letlhakeng/Lephephe MP, Mr Liakat Kably said such a development would bring equality to all Batswana irrespective of their locations. 

“The motion is calling on us to change the way we have been doing things. Let all Batswana be equal. Let us provide similar services to Batswana at the farm lands who are producing food just like we do those in villages,” he submitted.

He said government had to promote integrating modern and rural life through provision of basic services such as portable water in farm lands. 

This, he said, would also contribute towards food production which the government encouraged.

Mr Kably further said availing water at ungazetted areas would reduce the vandalism of water pipes that were next to such places.

Maun East MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile also supported the motion. 

He said it was no longer safe to utilise water from natural sources. 

He said efforts to provide water to ungazzetted areas through constituency community projects were not effective due to limited funds.

He said water was one of the essential needs in agricultural production areas that could contribute towards growing the agricultural sector. 

“Providing water in agricultural areas would attract more people to the sector thereby improving the quality of our produce. This would not only grow the economy, but would also go a long way in reducing poverty levels,” he argued.

He said the government had to do away with old laws that did not align with current situations. 

He underscored the need for such legislation to be updated to suit current developments.

Opposing the motion, Shoshong MP, Mr Aubrey Lesaso argued that provision and reticulation of water was dependent on various factors.

“Bringing water to ungazetted areas would lure people and they will need other infrastructure and services like schools and kgotla. This would also call for the reticulation of water in such areas. Therefore, these developments would need more funds and human resource,” he said.

He said apart from legal provisions, it was costly to provide water to ungazetted areas considering that government was still challenged to reticulate water to new plots in gazetted areas. 

He also said some big villages were still experiencing water shortage due to worn out pipes. 

He added that the motion was not feasible.

Shashe West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao also opposed the motion, saying the extension of the water network in gazetted areas was still a challenge.

He also said the motion was against the interest of people who did not want to integrate residential areas and farm lands. 

He also noted that there were provisions through the Ministry of Agriculture to provide water to agricultural areas. Ends