Molepolole endures intolerable water woes
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday July 11, 2023 06:00
This is after the government moved the long-promised Molepolole Water and Sanitation project to commence during the next Transitional National Development (TND) Plan from 2023–2024 to 2024–2025.
The construction of the project was expected to have started in the 2020–2021 financial year alongside the Molepolole-Gamononyane NSC Connection Project which is currently ongoing. However, the project which was estimated to cost P2.5 billion over a planned implementation period of 18 months could not start due to insufficient funds.
The Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Kefentse Mzwinila recently told Parliament that the project has since been included in the second TND Budget Plan from 2023–2024 to 2024–2025 with a budget allocation of P1.9 billion of which P416.7 million is allocated to the current financial year. Mzwinila admitted that indeed the project has long been promised but had to be shelved due to financial constraints. “Since the funds allocated under the Transitional National Development Plan are still lower than the budget, the ministry prioritised some areas for rehabilitation of potable water and the construction of a new wastewater plant to connect some institutions.
The remaining scope will be implemented during the National Development Plan 12. The project is currently at the procurement stage,” he said. The project objective is to rehabilitate and upgrade the network to distribute water supply and sanitation services to increase access to safe and adequate sustainable water. Mzwinila indicated that the plan was to undertake both the water supply and wastewater network at the same time with the intention to harmonise the implementation of the two systems such that disturbances to the community are minimised and resultantly save and compensation fees.
He stated that considering the amount of work to be done, the ministry has divided the project into six components that will be awarded in six contracts running concurrently to shorten the procurement process and achieve efficiency in the delivery of the project and shorten the implementation of the period. Mzwinila was responding to a question asked by Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Oabile Regoeng who had asked the minister to state when the long-promised Molepolole Water and Sanitation Project will commence.
Molepolole, which is one of the most populated villages in the country, has a fragile water situation which has troubled residents for many years. It has been said that the situation is worsened by the old network infrastructure traversing long distances of the Molepolole water management area. The situation has left residents frustrated and accusing government of neglecting and undermining the area.