Mayor urges calm as Gaborone battles flooding fears
Pini Bothoko | Monday November 17, 2025 06:00
This follows widespread concern earlier this week after just four hours of continuous rainfall on Tuesday, which rendered several city roads closed. Flooded major routes across Gaborone forced the police to close some sections of roads as a precautionary measure to protect lives and property.
The heavy Tuesday morning rains caused temporary flooding in several parts of the city, with some residential yards submerged after perimeter walls failed to drain water effectively. The situation sparked anxiety amongst residents, who questioned the city’s ability to manage water pressure after only a few hours of rainfall, raising fears of what might happen should the rains persist for an entire weekend.
In an interview, Mayor Motlaleng urged residents to remain calm, assuring the public that the city council has been preparing extensively for the rainy season and is ready to respond to potential emergencies. However, he cautioned that flooding cannot be entirely avoided if residents continue to neglect proper waste disposal and fail to maintain their surroundings.
“We are pleading with residents not to panic. We have been working tirelessly to ensure that we are prepared for this year’s rains. But we also urge people to stop dumping litter in water streams because it blocks the natural flow of water,” appealed Motlaleng.
The mayor noted that poor waste management and improper housing structures remain some of the major contributors to urban flooding. He expressed a concern that many rented properties in the city are built without proper drainage channels, leaving tenants vulnerable when the rains intensify.
“Our water drainage remains a concern, but we have been clearing litter from streams across Gaborone. The problem is that the majority of residents live in rented houses, and landlords often do not make provisions for water drainage through their walls. People only realise the danger when their yards are flooded,” he added.
Motlaleng emphasised that the city council cannot fight the problem alone and called on residents to take personal responsibility by keeping their surroundings clean, ensuring water outlets are functional, and avoiding actions that obstruct the natural flow of water.
“Every time it rains, people accuse us of failing to maintain the city, yet many of them are the same individuals who dump garbage in streams. If the people could play their part, water would flow easily and flooding would be minimised,” he said.
He further revealed that the council has conducted assessments after last year’s heavy rains and implemented improvements to enhance response and drainage management this season.
When asked why some city roads appear to flood with every rainfall, Motlaleng attributed the issue to the blockage of natural water paths by some property owners.
“We have established that some residents have built structures that block streams passing near their yards. This prevents water from moving freely, leading to unnecessary flooding. People should allow water to flow naturally and avoid obstructing it,” he explained.
Motlaleng added that, unlike in villages where roads are mostly gravel, Gaborone’s tarred roads cause water to flow rapidly, making efficient drainage even more critical.
Meanwhile, members of the public have urged the city council to consider long-term infrastructure solutions to address the city’s recurring flooding challenges. Residents have called for the construction of bigger bridges and the expansion of existing ones to ease vehicle movement during heavy rainfall.
They also appealed to the council to prioritise regular maintenance and clearing of the Segoditshane River, which frequently floods and disrupts both pedestrian and vehicle traffic whenever it rains, by clearing bushes and removing silt frequently so that water can flow freely.
As the rainy season continues, both the council and residents brace for more downpours, hoping that collective responsibility, improved infrastructure, and timely response will help prevent another season of chaos on Gaborone’s roads and neighbourhoods.