04 Sep 2023

Government is committed to ensuring equitable access to safer and quality water service, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane has said. 

He affirmed on Thursday during a kgotla meeting in Rakops that government’s aim was to sustain access to clean water, citing the ongoing construction of Boteti Southern and Central cluster villages water supply project. 

The project, he said, would have a treatment plant in Mokobaxane with a network covering Mokobaxane, Kedia, Xhumo, Mopipi, Toromoja, Mmadikola, Xere and Rakops.

He said the project would address water challenges such as bad odour, poor quality and inadequate water supply that had been bedevilling Boteti residents over the years. 

Mr Tsogwane indicated that government’s aim was to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number six, which talks to clean water and sanitation. 

Access to clean and safe water he said would lead to improved health and clean environment, which also drove Sustainable Development Goal number three advocating for healthy lives and promotion of wellbeing of all ages. 

Botswana, he said, was performing well on that goal stating that the country was above 95 per cent on the uptake of Anti-Retrovirals.

Mr Tsogwane stated that Botswana was progressing well and moving at a satisfactory pace to achieve United Nations SDGs. 

He said the country was also outstanding in the Fight against gender-based violence (GBV) stating that there was a register for GBV cases and various units aimed at fighting the vice had been set up.

On other issues he stated that Mokobaxane-Kedia-Xhumo road would be prioritised, explaining that the plan was to focus on Makalamabedi–Motopi road expected to commence soon. 

Rakops-Toromoja road, he said, would only be graded as they had a tarred access road,

He said funds would be solicited from private sector to expand Herero Healthpost to add a maternity wing to help ease congestion at Rakops Primary Hospital. 

He also toured Rakops Junior Secondary to appreciate its dilapidated status.

The Vice President was responding to Herero Ward Development Committee chaiperson, Mr Collins Raurau who called for the upgrade of Herero Healthpost to a clinic with maternity wing. 

He also expressed concern that Rakops Junior Secondary School was dilapidated and needed cyclic maintenance, adding that the school vehicle had since been down. 

In response, chief education officer, Ms Oratile Thonkga said there were no funds to do cyclic maintenance at the school.

Boteti acting council secretary Mr Christopher Maramba said Debswana had offered council P2 million to construct internal roads in Rakops, adding that Constituency Community Project funds would also be used for internal roads. 

He added that NDP 12 projects propositions would be responded to in 2025. ends