26 Jan 2014

The recurring water shortage at Mosu in the Boteti Sub-district has forced the Village Development Committee (VDC) to consider re-introducing pit latrines as a solution to the problem faced by government institutions.

The VDC chairperson, Mr Botsaletswemang Mphetsolang told a kgotla meeting addressed by the Member of Parliament for Boteti North, Mr Slumber Tsogwane at Mosu that the pit latrines were discontinued as they posed a health hazard by polluting underground water, adding that they were left with no option but to take the risk because waterborne toilets ould not operate without water.

Mr Mphetsolang said one of the proposed VDC projects to be carried out through Ipelegeng in the next financial year would be the construction of seven pit latrines, five of which will be at Mosu Primary School and each at Seosenyeng and Segootsane wards respectively.

He said unreliable water supply has forced the schools and other government institutions to consider pit latrines as a solution since. Mr Mphetsolang said the situation is worsened by the fact that the village primary schools and Makgadikgadi JSS have boarding facilities.

He called for an immediate solution to the problem, adding that the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has failed to address the water situation. He said the VDC was also constructing two pit latrines at the village kgotla to be used by the community and tribal administration employees.

The primary school head, Ms Othusitse Moeti said the move to construct pit latrines was taken after consulting with relevant council departments, adding that the water system toilets were always over flowing as there was no water to flush.

She raised concern that students were at risk of getting infectious diseases as they cannot stop them from using the toilets as there was no alternative.

Kgosi Phillip Kopano said since the takeover of water services by Water Utilities Corporation, the problem of water shortage in the village has been persistent. He said the water shortage could be necessitated by the fact that Mosu,  Mokubilo and Mmeya were supplied from one borehole.

Kgosi Kopano asked for the establishment of another water source and wondered why the corporation was delaying to connect the Makgaba borehole.

Boteti North MP said the water situation in Mosu has become a concern and wondered why WUC appear not to be cooperative with the community in addressing the problem. Mr Tsogwane said it was unfortunate that the villages were resorting to the use of pit latrines, adding that there were villages where groundwater sources were no longer in use after being polluted by pit latrines.

He said such a move would expose villagers to a health hazard and called on WUC to assist the villagers. The MP said boarding facilities were constructed at schools because it was taken into consideration that there was enough water to supply the facility and the villagers.  ENDS