19 Dec 2019

The much anticipated Mmamashia-Kanye North-South Carrier (NSC) connection is now up and running.

The Kanye Water Utilities Corporation, Waterworks Engineer, Gobotsamang Jamieson said this while giving water infrastructure project update at the stakeholder engagement meeting held recently.

Mr Jamieson said although the overall progress was at 96 per cent, commissioning was at 53 per cent, which meant that Kanye village has started benefiting from the scheme as of December 16.

He said the scheme had been supplying Moshupa with about 2 500 cubic metres of water daily.

He said the challenges presently was that NSC could not be utilized fully, as it could only supply 10 000m3 per day, supplying 3.5 millilitres to Thamaga, 2.5 ml to Moshupa and 4ml to Kanye.

“The new storage is at 22 ml, which consists of Moshupa’s 7 500 cubic metres tank at Polokwe, 1 000 cubic metres tank at Diboto ward, 3 500 cubic metres tank at Sejelo and the10 000 cubic metres tank at Kgwakgwe,” he said.

He however pointed out that full utilisation would only be realised after the connection of NSC2 phase 2.2, which would entail connection of pipelines from Palapye to Gaborone.

Mr Jamieson noted that as a result, the existing challenge of the storage and other factors such as the problem of rationing although minimal would continue to exist.

With regard to the sanitation scheme in Kanye, he said overall progress of construction was going at 51 per cent.

He said the project was planned for four years, but had been extended for another four years, with the financials extending to 128 per cent of the initial P707 million tender.

“Challenges are that the project was going at a slow pace due to the rocky conditions that comes with the topographical terrain in Kanye,” he said.

Mr Jamieson stated that the hard rock excavation actual quantities measured and approved exceeded the original Bill Of Quantities (BOQ).

He said that had stopped the rate and pace of working hence the need for extension of another four years.

“So far, 131.8 km have been fitted with 289.8km remaining, the pump station is at 61 per cent, while vacuum stations are going at 15 per cent, mechanical installation stands at 15 per cent, electrical installation at 55 per cent, telemetry and scada at 21 per cent and commissioning at 0 per cent,” he explained.

He said the contractor also faced challenges of importing suitable bedding material from borrow pits outside Kanye, as they had struggled to get borrow pits within the surrounding.

Other challenges, he said, included, overhauling of backfill material and removal of unsuitable material, underground water seepage delaying construction and land compensation issues and blasting consent from plot owners.

Mr Jamieson further said other critical obstacles covered difficulties in locating plot owners, refusal to give access for purpose of their property survey and photography and the158 complaints lodged with the project.

For his part, the head of Business Sector, Mr Abednico Mooka said they were on a journey to improve the customer experience through engaging stakeholders and customers.

He said through the feedback they hoped to align with stakeholder’s expectation and requirements.

Mr Jamieson highlighted that they had implemented different channels of communications and have a full print of the 42 service offices across the country as a way of ensuring accessibility.

“Our aim is to start on a clean slate with the political leadership as they are beginning their new term. We want to engage with them so that we can establish how best we can assist communities in partnership with them,” he said.

“We are cognizance of the fact that almost everyone is our customer. Our desire is to work in unison with our stakeholders in good standing going forward,” he said. Ends/bopa/dm181219