23 Mar 2014

The key challenges facing the country include absence of suitable dam sites, climate change effects as well as spatial mismatch between water demands and availability requiring investment in large infrastructure leading to water shortage.

Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila said during the Water Pitso in Maun on Friday, March 21 that the situation was exacerbated by increasing pollution risks to water resources due to poor sanitation.

“In the past, poor sanitation was never taken seriously and today we are running a risk that it is falling behind”, he said. He said at the current rates of abstraction, the lifetime of groundwater resources is limited to decades unless sustainable interventions such as artificial recharge are put in place of which “my ministry is currently developing.”

The minister noted that the government through his ministry was committed to ensuring water supply to the people as well as ensuring water security into the foreseeable future.

“It is no news that over and above the challenges, my ministry is faced with a mammoth task to pull this off in a drought prone country like Botswana. The government has over the years embarked on several key projects to avail water and the projects range from long term, medium and short term projects.” he added.

Mr Mokaila cited some long term projects as Thune and Lotsane Dams, adding that other projects include Maun Water Supply and Sanitation Project scheduled for completion in 2018.

On medium to short term projects, he said, the ministry through Water Utilities Corporation is currently undertaking over 100 projects to address water supply challenges around the country.

The minister said he believes that the initiatives would ensure sustainable water supply in water demand management.

He said water pitsos were initiated to cultivate and build solid partnerships between the government and all relevant stakeholders. He said they enshrine democratic values of continuous consultation process for the benefit of the country.

He also urged people to conserve and use water wisely as it is a finite resource, key factor for human survival and a major drive of both economic and development growth.

Mr Mokaila said the Pitso theme was appropriate as it provides a platform for the participants to identify water challenges and find sustainable interventions.

He said in Botswana it was evident that there had been changes in rainfall trends, as sometimes there is extremely low or extremely high amounts of rainfall.

The minister highlighted that recently the northern part of the country and most parts of the Kgalagadi experienced high amounts of rain resulting in floods in some areas whereas the south eastern part experienced relatively low rainfalls.

For his part, the deputy permanent secretary, Mr Kgomotso Abi said the objectives of water pitso were to consult on issues pertaining to water shortage, how to mitigate climate issues and share achievements, challenges and solicit ideas from stakeholders.

He said the ministry is mandated to provide reliable, adequate and good quality water; reliable and accessible energy services and efficient administrative services for mineral exploitation in partnership with stakeholders. ENDS