01 Sep 2024

Government continues to undertake major water projects across the country in order to achieve national sufficiency, says Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Honourable Dr Kefentse Mzwinila.

Speaking at the North South Carrier (NSC 2.2) project testing in Bokaa on Friday, Dr Mzwinila said the testing paved way for the official opening of the project by His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi.

He noted that the project was carried out to augment water shortage in the southern parts of the country.

“Government recognised the need to have more pipelines than just one,” he said.

 Dr Mzwinila said it took them years to develop the project due to lack of technological advancement and shortage of funds.

He said they came up with the Masama project which was now helpful to Batswana, and that during COVID-19 and after the need for water increased and Masama rescued the southern part of Botswana.

He said they were building a reservoir that could hold 92 million litres of water and other projects, including the Lobatse water master plan and Gamononyane pump station.

The minister said the country had good water infrastructure, and he expressed gratitude to companies that managed to deliver projects on budget, time and schedule. 

He added that a project that needed four to five years was carried out in two years.

Giving an overview of the project, Water Utilities Corporation, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gaselemogwe Senai said the objective of the project was to convey water from Dikgatlhong and Letsibogo dams to ensure supply to Radisele, Tswapong South, Dibete, Mochudi, Molepolole, Rolong and Kanye cluster villages as well as greater Mahalapye and Gaborone up to 2041.

He said the Palapye-Mmamashia water transfer project would convey 100 million per day into the Mmamashia water treatment plant, adding that it had the capacity to clean 220 million litres per day and was the central node for water supply in the greater Gaborone area.

The chief executive officer also noted that the NSC 2.2 project comprised of a 253km transfer scheme from sources located in the north eastern part of the country to greater Gaborone.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Botshelo Mosinyi of Bokaa said he was happy that the project was completed.

He noted that people needed water to live and to carry out development projects, adding that the population of his village had increased exponentially due to its proximity to Gaborone. However, he said they were unable to deliver expected services due to shortage of resources.

Giving a vote of thanks, Kgatleng District Council deputy council chairperson, Mr Modise Ncube commended government for addressing water shortage across the country. Ends