21 Mar 2013

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development is to procure two pumps to replace the existing one at Shakawe treatment plant in an effort to address the water crises in the village which is also affecting the just opened senior secondary school.

The local council chairman, Mr Lathang Molonda said the proposed rehabilitation of the Shakawe treatment plant project would address the problem of water in the village and its environs as they were contained in the scope of the works.

Mr Molonda was updating the on-going council meeting  about water developments projects in the district. He said following a major water crisis in Shakawe, the situation was assessed in February and specific recommendations were made to address it.

He explained that it was observed that the current water treatment plant was built in 1966 with a design lifespan of 10 years and to serve an estimated population of 3298 by then. However the population has out grown the capacity of the plant as it stood at 6693 in 2011.

In addition to the population growth, Mr Molonda noted that four villages;  Mhembo West, Samuchima, Xhaoga, Nxamasere and associated settlements like Okhutse were supplied by the same Shakawe treatment plant.

He said the water situation had also been exacerbated by the opening of the Shakawe Senior Secondary School in January. Mr Molonda said the Project Management and Construction supervision for the water treatment plant was still at the evaluation stage while the appointment of a consultant to undertake design audit and construction supervision was completed last year October.

The meeting also learnt that the tender for construction of the Seronga-Gudingwa rural villages water supply interconnection scheme was considered by the Adjudication Committee on January 21 this year and shortly one of the bidders complained that the process was not fair and requested for an administrative review.

Further, the bidder appealed against the decision of the Adjudication Committee and the matter was referred to the appeals board. Mr Molonda explained that following the appeal it became apparent that there was no standing Appeals Board as the term for the former board members had expired. He said they had forwarded proposed names of board members to the Minister of Local Government and Rural development for approval and gazettement after which the appeal would be heard.

In order to avoid re-tendering resulting from lapse of validity period, all bidders had been requested to extend validity of their tenders by 60 days, he said.

Mr Molonda informed councilors that the revised movement protocol as at February 12 showed that movement of live cattle and small stock and their fresh product was not allowed out of sub-zone 2. However slaughter cattle and small stock may be moved to approved abattoirs only from the extension areas of Shorobe, Maun East, Chanoga, Makalmabedi and Haina ranches.

Animal destined for Botswana Meat Commission should be inspected and issued with permits at loading points while those destined for Ngamiland abattoir would be inspected by department of Veterinary Services (DVS) officials.

Mr Molonda noted that animals with suspicious clinical signs would be returned by the farmer to the areas of origin under supervision of DVS or destroyed and burnt at farmer’s cost. ENDS