16 Oct 2023

The  multimillion Pula water desalination plants at Rappelspan and Struizendam was officially handed to government on Friday.

The project facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Global Environmental Facility (GEF) was managed by the Orange-Senque River Commission (ORASECOM) and served as a response to end water woes in the BORAVAST cluster in Tsabong District.

When receiving the desalination plants on behalf of government at Struizendam and Rappelspan, Department of Water and Sanitation director Ms Bogadi Mathangwane said the projects which were commissioned in September 2020 were under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) secretariat of ORASECOM.

As such, she said, their completion was an important milestone for Botswana and the SADC region, adding that government was committed to nurturing opportunities for cooperation in water management among Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho.

Ms Mathangwane said the project was a complete package and it included livelihoods projects such as horticulture and small stock farming, based on the realisation that small-stock production was a highly profitable business.

She said it was pleasing that the community chose to diversify their livelihood with the use of the treated water from the desalination plants.

 “I do hope the livestock beneficiaries will get an opportunity to train at the Lobu small stock farm to sustainably manage their livestock,” she said.

She stated that water was one of the limiting factors in the socio-economic growth and noted that most small farmers in the area could not afford to drill boreholes.

 “It is challenging for them to engage in the small stock or agricultural business. The two desalination plants solely funded by UNDP-GEF through ORASECOM will facilitate the disadvantaged members of our society and the community at large,” she said.

Struizendam Kgosi Titus appreciated the desalination plants, adding that that it would transform their livelihoods. He encouraged residents to take care of the plants for generations to come.

Handing over the project ORASECOM executive secretary, Mr Lenka Thamae said climate change posed serious challenges which include water shortage. He said to deal with the challenge, ORASECOM managed the Struizendam and Rappelspan projects which were identified as priority actions.

UNDP South Africa office representative, Mr Friedrick Shikweni, said the project presented opportunities for the community and urged them to use it productively to be able to supply global markets from both horticulture production and small stock. He called for tight security as it was important to keep the project safe for the community to benefit.

ORASECOM member, Mr Michael Ramaano, said the project was funded to the tune of P25 million and was expected to run for 5 years from 2020.

He said the desalination plants were up and running and each plant produced 2000 litres per hour of water to be used by people and animals. The plants, he said, could run for 10-12 hours per day and produce 20 000 liters of water per day.

Mr Ramaano said small stock uses between 4000-6000 liters per day which meant excess clean water which could be used for other uses.

The Chairperson of Tsabong District Council,  Mr Hendrick Jacobs, said after handing over the projects, it was important to take the community through the process of ownership. He also called for a mindset change to be able to ensure efficient use of the project and reap good results. ENDS