Palapye Chief appeals for water project benefits

ONALENNA KELEBEILE
Staff Writer | Thursday May 2, 2013 00:00

He said that in the past, major projects in Palapye left the community in despair. He cited the Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Morupule B power project and the controversy-riddled glass manufacturing project. 'Let this new water project be different from the previous projects undertaken in Palapye,' he said.

He regretted that contractors do shoddy jobs that result in people running short of water due to burst pipes.'Some promise to deliver good projects only for defects on the project to prove them wrong immediately.We are hopeful that contractors have learnt lessons from the first phase of the project,' he added.

He said that as a result of continuing water pipe bursts in phase one of the project, farmers from neighbouring villages have relocated their cattle to Palapye to drink from the pools created by the leakages.He warned contractors to desist from banking on repair of bursting pipes but to ensure they use quality materials from the onset. He poured scorn on Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) for the way it carries out its mandate.

He said the corporation continues to cheat consumers only for the minister to defend it. He said the corporation's billing system is questionable and it does not serve customers like the defunct Water Affairs Department. 'They are quick to disconnect while they take long to issue bills,' he charged.

Mokaila replied that he will not defend the corporation and urged people to understand that they must pay for water usage. He warned farmers who vandalise water pipes to allow their livestock to drink from the leakage to desist from doing so because it affects water supplies especially to the southern part of the country.

He said he will make sure that the contractor in the North South Water Carrier II performs according to expectations. He said he will visit the site regularly to monitor progress and to constantly check the quality of pipes used in the project.