12 Sep 2023

The water situation in Molepolole and surrounding areas is expected to improve when the major bulk water supply project connecting the village to the North South Carrier II is completed end of this month.

This was revealed by Kweneng District Council chairperson, Mr Allen Jacobs at the opening of the third session of the ordinary full council meeting in Molepolole on Monday.

Mr Jacobs said the project, whose objective was to supply water to Molepolole and other villages in the periphery such as Kopong, Lentsweletau, Medie, Mmanoko, and Thebephatshwa, was progressing well.

He indicated that at the end of August, progress stood at 96 per cent against the planned cumulative progress of 100 per cent.

He explained that the remaining four per cent of the programme of works was due to the delayed start of the Kopong pipeline and electrical, mechanical and telemetry components of the works.

He also pointed out that part of the delay was caused by rainfall that was higher than average during the construction period of the project, leading to regular stoppages, thereby slowing progress.

Mr Jacobs said the contractor had been instructed to accelerate the completion of the project and had submitted a catch-up plan for completion of the project by end of this month.

As such he said the contractor’s progress was being monitored on a weekly basis to ensure that commissioning of the project commenced by the end of this month.

He highlighted that construction of the main pipeline from Gamononyane to Mosinki as well as the 20 million litre reservoir at Mosinki had been completed.

Mr Jacobs also shared that the bulk water supply augmentation under this project was intended to meet the projected 20-year design horizon up to 2041 and scope change had been made to allow for inclusion of Mmatseta off-take and Gakuto supply lines.

He also registered a concern regarding the high number of domestic animals that roamed around Molepolole unattended.

He noted that letting animals to stray contravened bye-laws, and the council was empowered to seize and detain any livestock found unattended or reported wondering in the village.

He further explained that owners of detained livestock only reclaimed their animals upon production of certified documents of ownership and payment of P150 per day for every day that the animal was in possession of the council.

He said this financial year, 16 people were charged for contravening the control of livestock and other animals bye-laws and total fines collected from impounded livestock amounted to over P15 000. Ends