14 Sep 2022

The people of Lepokole and four other villages in Bobirwa will have to wait longer before they could benefit from Thune water scheme.

The tenders for Thune water scheme project meant to supply water to Lepokole, Gobojango, Semolale, Mabolwe and Motlhabaneng were cancelled due to some technical issues, a letter from Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs’s projects management office to Bobirwa Sub-district Council’s senior assistant council secretary (SACS) states.

Read during Member of Parliament for Bobonong’s kgotla meeting at the village, Tuesday, the August 17 letter states that tenders for the two projects, one that will connect Motlhabaneng to Mathathane water pipeline and another that will connect the villages of Lepokole, Gobojango, Semolale and Mabolwe, have been cancelled owing to ‘some technical issues.’

The correspondence states that there will be re-tendering as a result. The re-tendering will be done this financial year. Bidders have been notified of the development, the letter further states.

The letter was a response from the office of SACS that sought clarification on the delays regarding connecting the villages to the Thune Dam water scheme.

In the initial tender, Lepokole was to be connected from Bobonong, about 27 kilometers away.

The reading of the letter followed complaints by the village chief, Kgosi Mompoloki Lemponye and village development committee (VDC) chairperson, Ms Matshidiso Phuthego regarding the long wait for the water project.

The two leaders had expressed that shortage of water in the village adversely affected their lives. This is despite efforts by Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to bowse water to the village.

“Initially we had saline water which was not good for our health, now we get some few drops of potable water that is enjoyed by one side of the village,” said Ms Phuthego.

She also said despite struggling with water, the utilities corporation’s water reticulation in the village was worrisome. 

She also said some taps within the village were yet to cough out some water ever since connection.

At the school, Ms Phuthego said, pupils could not use water based toilets and were therefore restricted to the pit latrines.

“There had been consultations regarding ploughing fields which would be affected by the water pipeline from Bobonong, owners of the fields have been compensated. Now, we wonder why the delay!” Kgosi Lemponye said.

Kgosi Lemponye said he had been aware that the project implementation was postponed due to COVID-19, but wondered how it could be cancelled when his people were thirsty.

However, bowsing water to the village had been a daunting task to WUC whose vehicles experienced breakdowns owing to the poor state of the road. The corporation resorted to filling the water tanks few kilometers from Bobonong and pump to the village about 24km away.

WUC official Mr Godfrey Mazhawidza conceded that the water situation affected the clinic and primary school due to topography. 

He said only when water had reached all parts of the village that the two government institutions could start to get some drops.

The WUC official said while awaiting the water project, his office will endeavor to clear water shortage concern from the village.

Mr Mazhawidza also said his corporation would engage private companies to connect water into homes, a move he hoped would be quicker.

“We hope that after applying it would take you about 15 days to be connected,” said Mr Mazawiza. Ends