Rakops youth petition against smelly water
Pauline Dikuelo | Friday July 3, 2015 14:52
The disgruntled youth travelled over 500 kilometres to Gaborone before submitting the petition protesting against the supply of smelly tap water in the village to the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs and Member of Parliament, Slumber Tsogwane on Monday.
The petition bearing 130 signatures and comments was left with the MP’s secretary as Tsogwane was said to be attending a Kgotla meeting at Lesenepole.
However, the youth group feels that their MP does not care much about the issue as he once said that they have been drinking the water for years and that the water has not killed them.
One of the youth, Kelebogile Nengo said that when he called Tsogwane last Monday, informing him about the petition, the MP said that the water has been clean for the last two weeks.
According to Nengo he then called the Minister of Energy and Water Resources Kitso Mokaila who said that he was aware of the issue and would take the matter seriously.
He said that Mokaila assured them during a Kgotla meeting in May that he was going to install a plant that will start supplying clean water in three years time.
When contacted for a comment, Tsogwane acknowledged the situation at Rakops, adding that fellow cabinet member, Mokaila, recently visited the place and put a booster plant to help.
“The Water Utilities Corporation put boosters, which helped the villagers get clean water. Unfortunately it ran for a week and the engine was destroyed. As we speak the engine is still being repaired in Gaborone,” he said.
However, Tsogwane said that the relevant ministry has also put in place a long-term plan to install a plant that will treat the water and help the village have clean supply for good.
Another youth, Collen Ramakhubu said that the WUC in Letlhakane has told them that the water has hydrogen sulphide, which is not harmful for consumption. Hydrogen sulphide is a chemical compound in the form of a colourless gas with the characteristic foul odour of rotten eggs. It is heavier than air, very poisonous, corrosive, flammable and explosive.