19 Sep 2023

Serowe District councillors have been urged to inform their electorate about the reduced Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) connection fees for low-income households.

Officially opening the Serowe District full council session on September 18, council chairperson Mr Keneilwe Monageng said he suspected that intended beneficiaries were not aware of the programme as there was low intake.

The session was held in Moiyabana instead of the usual council chambers in Serowe to correct the perception that significant events were only held in Serowe to the detriment of smaller villages. 

Mr Monageng said household connection fees for low-income households had been reduced from P5 000 to P2 500.

Mr Monageng praised government for the initiative and expressed worry for the low connection rates despite the reduced fees.

Mr Monageng informed councillors that BPC had electrification projects at Majwanaadipitse and Mogorosi, and that the Majwanaadipitse project would be completed by the end of next month. 

He also said Moiyabana and Mabeleapodi had new approved electrification projects for the financial year 2023/24.

He applauded BPC for the public education they were conducting through radio stations and urged them to do more to reach communities in remote areas.

He also said there was need for public education to decrease vandalism of BPC electricity infrastructure.

On other issues, Mr Monageng noted that Water Utilities Corporation was owed huge amounts of money. 

He said the SDC debt stood at around P23 million with about P11 million attributed to domestic customers and about P10 million to government institutions.

He said water was a major utility in any country and that it had to be conserved to avoid unnecessary costs due to wastage and leakages. ENDS