Morupisi confirms Presidential Directive for Masama 100km project
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Tuesday August 27, 2019 10:24
In an interview with Mmegi at his office the PSP however said taking the project to parliament for inclusion in the NDP11 and for approval of its expenditure was a normal planning process required when the executive proposes variation to an approved plan, adding that there were several other emergency projects like it which were similarly submitted to pass through parliament .
However the PSP says while parliament has rejected the inclusion of the Masama 100km project in the NDP11 and its funding, it has to be understood that providing water to the affected areas still remains a priority for government.
Morupisi says failure of the project to go through parliament has shocked everyone, even himself, as no one saw it coming, especially considering the dire water stress in the greater Gaborone and other areas.
He stated that emergency projects like the Masama water would usually see the President taking decision to implement on urgency and later go to parliament for retroactive approval, but said on this particular instance , since parliament was still on, it was deemed proper by Cabinet to get it pass through parliament and implement urgently. “ To vary plans in NDP11, after cabinet blessing, we take them to parliament, we do it all the time, it is not something new, people should understand that”, Morupisi explained.
Turning to the dire water situation in the southern parts of the country and greater Gaborone, Morupisi described the current situation as dire and desperate.” The situation is so desperate, we cannot just sit back, an alternative plan will have to be found as a matter of urgency”.
According to Morupisi, technocrats will reflect on the matter and advise their Minister and to come up with a solution since sitting back is not an option.” People do not have enough water, water rationing has started and this can not be a permanent solution. This situation in the southern and greater Gaborone areas is dire, remember this part of the country has not had sufficient rains in the last two years, meaning boreholes have not recharged hence they are stressed”.
Pressed to say whether the Masama 100km can still be done under the circumstances, the PSP said it was not the project intention which was rejected but its inclusion in the development plan and the proposed funding model, “ it is therefore important for government to find an alternative solution to the water situation ”.
Morupisi says when the matter came to cabinet it was adequately demonstrated that of all the available options the Masama 100km project would be the ideal relief since it could be completed within a period of 12 months while the other project, the north south carrier 2.2, which involves pulling the pipeline from Palapye to Gaborone, would take about four years to complete.