MMAMASHIA Water Treatment Set to Become Biggest in Southern Africa

Botswana’s Government is committed in the mandate that services are brought closer to the people and continually revises policies and processes to ensure that is achieved.

At the completion of North South Courier 2, Mmamashia Water Treatment plant will become the biggest in Southern Africa, the Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kefentse Mzwinila said recently during the site media tour of the Goodhope Water Plan Phase 2.2.

Dr Mzwinila said that the Government in line with its National Water Masterplan, has an obligation to ensure water reaches every corner of this country before the end of the current National Development Plan (NDP11).

“As a responsible government, we are concerned when the citizens decry shortage of water because we know how essential water is health wise and for other economic purposes, hence the deliberate decision to ensure water shortage especially in the southern part is addressed by next year” says the minister.

Detailing the history of government’s ambitions to ensure security of water supply, Dr Mzwinila said they were concerned by water scarcity in the south region of the country hence the decision to get water from the north through the North – South Water Carrier (NSC Water Project).

As part of the National Water Master Plan, the North South Carrier 1, in 1998 came into being, with the intention to carry water from Letsibogo dam.

Later as demand for water in the south grew, due to urbanisation among others, government started the conceptualizing the North South Carrier 2, to carry water from Palapye to Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant, by far the largest treatment plant, which will supply water to most regions in the south; Lobatse, Kanye and Goodhopee districts and their surrounding areas.

Another benchmark water facility in Botswana is the Kgale Hill water Storage enclave the biggest in Southern Africa , which has the capacity to hold up to 94 million litres once it starts receiving water from NSC 2.3.

The government committed funds for this mega projects with clear intentions that there is water security for every citizen in the country by next year.

Dr Mzwinila called on the contractors to ensure all the projects are ready on time and within the budget.

In response to the Minister, the contractors said everything is going accordingly and that delivery date and budget remain unchanged.