President Masisi of Botswana is delighted to announce the completion of a 100km Masama water project whose contrator is Khato Civils of Mr Simbi Phiri.
Masisi said that his government is committed to deliver water to Batswana and we are fulfilling the promise. I am happy that the Masama project has been completed.
Some villages started drinking water from Masama last week and I should commission the project sometime next month. Next will be the Gamononyane-Molepolole pipeline.
MASAMA WATER REACHES GABORONE, MOCHU
Following the recent completion of the Masama to Mmamashia 100 kilometre pipeline, residents of Greater Gaborone and the Mochudi cluster, as well as other parts of south and south-eastern Botswana, now have access to water drawn from the project.
This was revealed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Water and Sanitation Services, Ms Bonolo Khumotaka in an interview with BOPA.
She disclosed that the pipleline’s water became available to homes and industries in Greater Gaborone, which includes the national capital and surrounding areas such Mogoditshane, Tlokweng, Gabane as well as the Mochudi Cluster, which incorporates villages around the Kgatleng District capital, from Pilane, Morwa, Bokaa and Oodi-Matebele to Sikwane now as of September 5.
Other parts of the south of Botswana including villages to the east of Kweneng including Thamaga, South East villages such as Ramotswa and Otse; Lobatse and parts of the Southern District including Kanye, Moshupa and Good Hope would also benefit from the project, she said.
Despite the financial shortfall experienced globally and nationally after the advent of COVID-19 early 2020, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and the government decided to prioritise this project, Ms Khumotaka revealed.
This was so as to address water shortage in Gaborone and other parts of Southern Botswana, she said. Thus the 100-kilometre pipeline which links Masama Wellfields and the Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant was constructed from May 2020 and completed this year.
“The tender was awarded to a joint venture between Khato Civils, South Zambezi and Evolution Engineers at just under P800 million and 30 percent was reserved for citizens,” Ms Khumotaka stated.
The project pumps 64 million litres of water per day from the Masama Wellfields to the Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant to augment supply in Greater Gaborone.
“We must thank various government departments and stakeholders including the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) and Botswana Police Service for assistance in completing the project during the period of COVID-19 and State of Public Emergency,” Ms Khumotaka said.
She disclosed that government had realised the importance of delivering on this project, an election pledge that addressed basic household and industrial needs, and it was prioritised as an essential service.
“The construction managed to take place and supplies of necessary materials imported from outside the country reached site even during the period of cross border travel restrictions, owing to political will and the support on the ground from the various stakeholders,” Ms Khumotaka said.
Following the successful conclusion of the project, on time and within budget, the President Dr Masisi is due to conduct an official opening ceremony in the near future, she said.