22 Sep 2026

The Department of Water and Sanitation has urged Maun residents to take an active role in protecting the river from pollution and activities that threaten aquatic life and the sustainability of the water ecosystem.

Chief Technical Officer in the department, Mr Keabetswe Kebabone, made the call during a kgotla meeting convened by Maun North Member of Parliament, Mr Dumelang Saleshando recently.  Mr Kebabone urged residents to act as watchdogs by reporting individuals and companies that polluted the river through activities such as disposing of sanitation waste and washing vehicles in the water. He said chemicals and other pollutants entering the river could be consumed by fish and other aquatic organisms, potentially posing risks to people who depend on the river and undermining the sustainability of the ecosystem.

He also raised concern over sand mining along the river, saying the practice created deep pits that could become dangerous when the river flooded.

Mr Kebabone said the pits posed a danger to people using the river for activities such as crossing, fishing and gathering tswii, which remained part of the way of life for communities in northern Botswana. He stressed that protecting the river required collective responsibility, urging residents to report activities that threatened the water resource to relevant authorities.

Mr Kebabone further encouraged residents to make use of legal mechanisms for accessing and managing water resources, including applying for water rights and registering boreholes.

He explained that a water right provided permission to draw water from sources such as rivers and boreholes, while properly registered boreholes could provide alternative water sources for households and businesses. 

“The availability of alternative water sources can reduce unnecessary pressure on the river. Therefore, I urge you to register for water rights and to do things properly and legally,” he said. The department provides water-quality testing services through its laboratories, including the Maun Water Quality Laboratory, where chemical and microbiological analysis of water can be conducted. A resident, Mr Kethobogilwe Keikanyamang, attributed some activities compromising natural resources to delays in land allocation.

He said some residents resorted to activities such as illegal sand mining and other informal businesses to earn a living, arguing that timely allocation of land would enable them to establish businesses legally. 

Meanwhile, Mr Saleshando informed residents of a planned health outreach initiative scheduled for October 23 and 24, which would bring specialist doctors, including gynaecologists, to Maun. He said the initiative targeted at least 100 patients and was intended to improve access to specialist health services in the North West Region.

The outreach follows previous specialist medical initiatives associated with the MP’s office, which have brought private medical specialists to Maun for consultations and screening. ends