11 Nov 2013

The design and construction of storm water drainage master plan for Francistown, including those of Ghanzi, Mahalapye, Lobatse, Mochudi and Gabane were not included in the National Development Plan 10 due to funding constraints.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele told Parliament that these projects and others were not allocated funding during the NDP 10 plan period. 

He said consideration would be made with other priorities during NDP 11 or in due course. He said the ministry was aware of flooding that took place in some parts of Francistown in the past and the damage to property that had occurred as a consequence of these floods.

Mr Siele said the ministry through Francistown City Council (FCC) had in the interim sourced funding for construction of storm water drains. He said three projects had been awarded for construction of storm water drainage in some parts of the city which were prone to flooding, such as Gerald Estates, Monarch and Minestone areas. 

He said works were expected to be complete by mid-December. Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked when the ministry would allocate money to FCC to carry out the long awaited storm water drainage master plan.

Mr Mmolotsi also wanted to know if the minister was aware that residents of Francistown have over the years lost properties due to flooding during rainy season. He further asked what interim measures were in place to ensure that destruction caused by floods in the city is minimised during rainy season. Ends