Water shortage troubling

Mmegi Editor | Tuesday May 23, 2017 11:54

Taps are still running dry with many communities across the country still being forced to compete with livestock and wild animals for water sources. Some villages go for weeks without water supply.

This is despite the fact that we had good rains this year that filled up all the country’s dams including the Gaborone Dam. More disturbing is the fact that some of these water shortages occur right at the areas not far away from the major dams.

In our last Friday edition, we carried a story about the residents of Ngwapa, Mokobeng and Matlhakola villages whose teeth have been discoloured by the poor quality of water they have been forced to drink over the years.

The water also put their health at risk, while their cooking utensils such as pots and electric kettles and clothes do not last longer. These villages are at the foot of Ntimbale Dam.

It is important for Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to engage in a vigorous strategy that will ensure that the country’s water reaches all the consumers. The first move could be to engage other stakeholders such as the Water Affairs Department, which has decades of experience in water reticulation.

Other players who are always willing to assist are the United Nations agencies, European Union and SADC among others. When he was Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Kitso Mokaila made an admission that the biggest challenge facing the country is not the shortage of water, but the lack of infrastructure to take the water to the people.

Last week the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development received a P1.52 billion loan from World Bank to address the challenge of poor infrastructure.

We hope that this loan, in addition to other Government funding will be spent properly to address this problem and bring closure to it within shortest possible time.

Because of the ever-growing population, there is need for additional reservoirs in many villages, as well as extension of pipelines. It is not fair for people to be told that they cannot be connected water on reasons that they are outside the map or planning area.

 In some instances it takes months, or even years for WUC to connect water for some applicants, the very reason people are unable to develop their plots within stipulated period of time.

On the other hand, Land Boards are merciless and they are always determined to repossess undeveloped plots.

We can create jobs, produce food, and build houses only if there is water.  WUC should up its game and give us water before we run out of patience.

 

Today’s thought

“Water is the driving force in nature.” 

- Leonardo da Vinci