Rakops goes �digital� in quest for clean water
Baboki Kayawe | Tuesday June 2, 2015 15:08
Last Monday, the youths filed an online petition against the ‘unpalatable and foul smelling Rakops water’. The petition is slowly gaining support among residents of the village, and surrounding areas in Boteti West.
The petition mastermind, Neo Ramakhubu, writes that: “This issue is affecting the people of Rakops psychologically because for many years now they have (had) to endure this water that smells terrible and nothing is being done about it”.
Yesterday, the 32-year-old lobbyist told Mmegi that the problem dates far back and poses a health threat to residents, though Botswana is a wealthy economy that should be able to afford clean drinking water for all its citizens.
“I believe a government that is as wealthy and known for a good economy should be able to provide its citizens with basic human rights like access to clean water,” she said.
The Canada-based young woman said she decided to go online since many people have access to technology these days. In addition, she said, web-based communications are capable of reaching a mass audience in comparison to conventional modes of communication.
“I am very sure that although we have had this issue of water that smells for a long time, the rest of the country is surprised to hear that people in Rakops have been drinking water that smells so bad.
“The story might have been mentioned before in newspapers but how many people read the newspapers? With Facebook, Twitter and Google, almost every young person has an account and I have been sharing the petition on all these social sites,” she said.
Ramakhubu said it appeared authorities were unwilling to redress the situation in the village, despite Mokaila’s recent visit.
“Dignitaries drink bottled water. My point is that Minister Mokaila will not understand the challenges of the village if people don’t stress the point and mention to him over and over again,” she said.
Thus far, 32 people have signed the petition out of the hundred that are needed to have it delivered. It is understood, a conventional petition is running parallel to the online one, to cater for those outside the digital divide. The physical petition has garnered 20 signatures.
Ramakhubu expects the petition to be delivered to the respondents by mid June. “I am prepared to turn for support to international organisations that campaign for clean drinking water for all citizens as a basic human right, if my petition is not heeded to. “However, these might be some of those things that burst the ‘good economy, good democracy, peaceful and equality’ bubble that my beautiful country is known for. “Why seek internationally for something that can be addressed locally.”