14 Sep 2023

Members of Parliament in Kweneng water distribution catchment areas have expressed appreciation for the Gamononyane-Molepolole North-South Carrier (NSC) water connection.

The Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kefentse Mzwinila, together with MPs made a site visit of Gamononyane-Molepolole NSC connection water supply scheme on Wednesday.

The project tour included site visits at Thebephatshwa Airbase, Mosinki Tank in Molepolole, Matlhabanelo pump station, Gamodubu tank site, Gamononyane pump station, Gamononyane village reticulation, Kopong pump station and Sasakwe tank.

Speaking at the end of the tour at Kopong pump station, Minister Mzwinila said the project intended to augment water supply to Molepolole, Mmanoko cluster villages, Thebephatshwa, Gamononyane, Gakuto, Mmatseta and Kopong as well as Lentsweletau cluster villages.

The minister said the present water supply sources to the villages was inadequate, and through the connection pipeline to the North South Carrier at Gamononyane pump station there would be adequate water supply.

“Upon completion of the project, there shall be a significant increase in water supply and the Gamononyane scheme will provide 24 mega litres of water per day, which will be distributed among the villages,” Dr Mzwinila said.

He said even though the project was delayed due to vandalism, the project completion stood at 97 per cent and water is expected to be available before the end of October.

He pointed out that his ministry was aware that some villages such as Molepolole needed rehabilitation in their distribution networks.

Dr Mzwinila recalled a similar experience in 2019 when the water reached Kanye, and the distribution infrastructure had to be refurbished. He said the same would be done in Molepolole.

Member of Parliament for Molepolole South and also Minister for State President, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said he was happy that at last Bakwena would have adequate water. He said the update made them hopeful that water shortage that had engulfed Kweneng District for a long time would soon be a thing of the past.  

Minister Morwaeng said the completion of the project indicated that government was committed to delivering on its promises.

The project manager, Mr Moanamise Tawana said the project started in September 2021 and was expected to be complete by March 2023, but got delayed due to challenges that included procurement of materials, and vandalism.

He said the scope of work covered pipelines, storage reservoirs and pump stations.

Mr Tawana said the scheme, which had been done at a total contract price of P895 million, would produce 24 mega litres of water per day, which would be enough to meet the demand of all the villages.

Mr Tawana said his team would start pressure testing, which they envisage to take two weeks while disinfecting would take a week and by mid-October the water would be pumped into the distribution network. Ends