07 Aug 2022

Parliament has rejected a motion by Ngami MP, Mr Kainangura Hikuama, requesting government to consider providing clean drinking water to rural communities in farming areas and ungazetted settlements.

The motion read “this Honourable House requests government to consider providing clean drinking water to rural communities in farm lands, ungazetted settlements and cattle posts because drinking water and sanitation are a pre-requisite for achieving a minimum standard of health and to undertake productive activities, and that it is also in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal number 6 of providing safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.”

Debating in support of the motion, Malahapye West MP, Mr David Tshere said as a country that strived for food sufficiency, Botswana should provide water at farm lands to encourage people to stay there and produce food.

“For us to produce food all year round we need to provide clean drinking water to people in those production areas. This would also curb the outbreak of diseases caused by unhealthy water,” he said.

Boteti West MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane opposed the motion, arguing that even though the government aspired to provide water to all Batswana, it could not be achieved at ungazetted areas due to financial constraints.

“We are currently doing our best to provide water to gazetted areas, but we have not turned a blind eye on those in rural areas, and we shall consider that when the situation improves,” he said.

He said the distribution of resources was guided by the settlement policy to ensure that services were distributed equitably and fairly.

Mr Tsogwane also encouraged people to harvest rain water and uphold water conservation as top priority.

Responding to the debate, Mr Hikuama said it was Parliament’s responsibility to align legal instruments with emerging dynamics and not to disregard existing plans.

He said provision of clean water to such areas should only be determined by resource availability and capacity, not legal instruments.

“These areas are economic production centres hence there is need to provide them with clean water so that they can produce food for the nation,” he said.

Mr Hikuama said it was important for all to have access to water in line with Vision 2036 which aspired for prosperity for all and enhancing human-social development.

He said provision of water to rural communities would also contribute towards developed and improved primary health care.

He said contrary to some arguments, the motion did not advocate for providing water for livestock, but instead clean healthy water for human consumption. He said farmers in those areas had other sources of water for watering their livestock.

The motion was rejected by 32 legislators against 14 who voted for it. ENDs