12 Mar 2025

Water works and human settlement must be prioritised and where possible be adequately financed, says Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi.
Presenting recurrent development budget estimates for his ministry in Parliament on Tuesday, he said water was a priority to human beings as there would be no life without water, adding that all the other projects aimed at improving livelihoods would never be possible without water. However, Mr Ramogapi acknowledged that though efforts were made to adequately provide potable water, there were challenges among others shortage of funds, limited yields and dilapidated infrastructure.
As such, he appealed to the public to preserve water and reduce wastage. “It must be handled with care to avoid waterborne and other human-animal transmittable diseases. It is important to conserve water,” he said.
Mr Ramogapi assured the nation that  government was determined to improve water supply as well as provide decent and dignified housing. The sum of P471 789 600 for the Recurrent Budget and P2 838 346 218 for the Development Budget was approved by Parliament.
He said the development budget was allocated for 76 projects. The minister said 10 projects were 13 per cent complete, 41 projects at 54 per cent were ongoing at various stages of completion while 25 projects at 33 per cent had not started.
“Projects that have not been started are mostly those that were either delayed or halted at pre-contract stage due to various challenges such as pre-contract activities taking longer than expected, disputed tender awards while some were deferred due to inadequate funding,” he said.
Mr Ramogapi said some of the deferred projects included parts of Molepolole water and sanitation project network rehabilitation and upgrade and Thune Dam Water Supply associated works, which included ppipelines to Motlhabaneng, Lepokolole, Gobojango, Semolale and Mabolwe.
He said housing was one of the most vital human needs, crucial in ensuring dignity and a high quality of life. “Government is dedicated to ensuring access to adequate, safe, decent and affordable housing,” he said. He said during 2024/2025 finacials 881 beneficiaries were targeted to be assisted under the Low-Income Housing Programme, adding that 668 beneficiaries received their housing units; being 606 under the Ordinary Turnkey Development Scheme, 23 under the Ordinary Home Improvement Scheme and 39 beneficiaries under the Turnkey Development Scheme for public officers of D4 salary scale and below.
Mr Ramogapi said the remaining 213 housing units were still under construction. He said government made a commitment to ensure access to shelter as a fundamental human right. He said the revamped programme, Bonno National Housing Programme, focused on inclusivity and commitment to the provision of dignified living conditions for Batswana.
In order to address issues of high levels of non-revenue water and high water bills, he said the ministry introduced Smart Prepaid Water Meters since in June 2024 adding that the project would complete in April 2025.
MP Shawn Ntlhaile of Gaborone North said water and housing projects planned for by the ministry were of great importance communities. Therefore he said Gaborone North must get a share in potable water works and locations such as Kgaphamadi were greatly affected by water shortage, adding also that accommodation was also a challenge in Kgaphamdi and other locations in the constituency. He appealed to the minister to treat water at the Glen Valley waste-water ponds as the stench emitted from the pond was a challenge to the community and equally a health hazard as well.
Ga-Malete MP, Mr Boniface Mabeo was concerned about Lesotho-Botswana water transfer project which was not part of the budget. He said Ga-Malete needed 10 million liters against the current supply of 8.4 million liters per day.
He said the project would realise water distributiom to the three countries of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland through construction of a dam at Makgaleng. He said 150 million liters of water would go to Botswana, 25 million liters to South Africa and another 25 liters would remain in Lesotho.
Mr Mabeo said corruption appeared to be rampant in the delivery of major water projects in the country.
He also advised that there was a need to increase funding towards the rehabilitation of water networks.
MP Mpho Morolong of Kgatleng central said government must desist from constructing houses for public officers but focus more on Bonno Housing Scheme. He said beneficiaries of such housing scheme would rent out houses to government. ENDS