22 Jul 2013

Construction of the proposed lower Notwane dam is not feasible, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Boikobo Paya has said.

The conception of the dam was developed to capture inflows of Notwane, Segoditshane, Metsimotlhabe and Tlhagale River after its confluence with Notwane.

Mr Paya was responding to MP for Palapye, Mr Moiseraele Goya’s concern over Segoditshane river water during a meeting about Morupule B power station in Palapye over the weekend. Mr Paya explained that his ministry had conducted a feasibility study which had proved that the lower Notwane dam was not feasible.

He said the proposed lower Notwane dam came into being after the over flowing of Tlhagale river which had not experienced overflowing for the past 15 years.

“We did a feasibility study and it was clear that the dam was not feasible because it will not add any value to Gaborone dam inflow,” he said.

He said Gaborone Dam was situated at a higher level while Notwane river was situated at a low level making it difficult and even more expensive to pump water from a lower to a higher level. Mr Goya said Segoditshane river water flowed into South Africa as such added value to the south Africa.

MMEWR minister, Mr Kitso Mokaila said rivers flowing in Botswana also flowed to other countries therefore the country had international water relationship with others and had to engage them prior to undertaking any project which will disrupt the river flow.

On other issues, Mr Mokaila said 46 per cent of water was wasted through vandalism of stand pipes thus urged parliamentarians to talk to their constituents about such issues.

The minister highlighted that water was very scarce hence a need to manage it accordingly, adding the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) under his ministry will give people priority over their livestock.

Again, he noted that watering livestock with potable water was not allowed as such farmers will have to apply for boreholes once operated by department of water affairs.

However, that did not go well with Mr Goya who contended that Batswana survived on livestock therefore leaving them out will somehow affect the economy.

MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele called for the enhancement of water harvesting strategies. ENDS