01 Jun 2014

The Ministry of Minerals Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR) has been compelled to defer some of its projects due to financial constraints.

Permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Boikobo Paya said during the Public Accounts Committee sitting on May 30 that the provision of services such as water, roads and sanitation was expensive.

He noted that land board allocated plots for free, adding that the process of surveying and plot allocation was quick and easy to undertake as opposed to servicing of land.

Furthermore, Mr Paya said the taking over of sanitation services from water affairs department was delayed to allow Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to put structures in place to accommodate such, as it did not have much experience on sanitation issues.

He said sanitation services remained a challenge in Botswana, adding that currently, there were major sanitation projects ongoing in Kanye and Molepolole that would assist them to improve.

The accounting officer was responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for Tonota North Mr Fidelis Molao who wanted an update on the future plans to expand network coverage on electricity and water.

Mr Molao also expressed concern that some villages in Tutume Sub-district go for weeks without water.

Mr Paya was also asked to explain the under expenditure of P412 million cumulative in the recurrent budget as the money could have been used to cover other areas.

MP Molao requested Mr Paya to explain what could have influenced the ministry’s decision to relieve WUC managers of their jobs.

He said in Mathangwane they have only one JCB which was dysfunctional, and people had requested to dig their own trenches to speed up connection of private water standpipes, but WUC insisted that it would use its own machinery.

The situation, he added, has resulted with people waiting for twelve months without connection due to the dysfunctional machinery.

Member of Parliament for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi had also complained that local government services were much better than WUC in terms of emptying sceptic tanks.

Mr Rammidi had asked if WUC was ready for takeover with respect to sanitation services, saying it took time for sceptic tanks to be emptied.

Regarding the recurrent budget under-expenditure, Mr Paya admitted that the figures were quite significant due to the restructuring process, whereby they reduced manpower, and also created some posts.

MP for Kgatleng East, Mr Isaac Mabiletsa complained that remote area dwellers and less or disadvantaged people were not provided with public stand pipes and people drank from a river in Ramotlabaki.

Mr Mabiletsa asked the accounting officer to explain the high water bills for consumers.

In response, Mr Paya said it was the responsibility of social welfare department under local government office to identify those who qualify for water supply services.

He said with prepaid, a person was given a token to access water from a public stand pipe, adding that there was a problem of communication between the ministry and social welfare department in terms of service delivery.

Mr Paya said WUC shared information with Water Affairs department regarding the digging of trenches for private connections, saying the problem could be operational issues on the ground and not policy issues.

He admitted the issue of unexplained exhorbitant water bills saying it was because at times estimations had to be made. In addition, he said lack of public education might be the contributory factor as consumers could be advised to take readings of their metres and check if they had any leakages.  Ends