Mzwinila sets the record straight
Tender for Chobe/ Zambezi water abstraction under consultation Awarding tender now will be counterproductive
Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Kefentse Mzwinila says any decision to abstract water from the Chobe/ Zambezi now will not only be counterproductive, but will jeopardise the chances of this country to do so.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Mzwinila whose ministry is the custodian of water in the country, denied any knowledge of the tender to abstract water having been awarded to any Israel Companies.
This publication recently reported conflict of interest and tension in the government enclave over who has to undertake the much- needed project.
Authoritative sources had revealed to Botswana Guardian that the Special Economic Zone Authority ( SEZA) has, on behalf of the Agricultural Ministry, awarded the tenders directly two Israel companies namely Baran and Kader JV.
The representatives of the companies were reported to have recently visited the country for the signing of the memorandum, but all in vain as the rightful authority to do that is the Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services.
Speaking to Botswana Guardian, Mzwinila made it clear that no water will be abstracted from the Chobe/ Zambezi without permission from his ministry after the final decision has been made with neighbouring countries that have common interest of the river. He said the final decision on how the water will be abstracted will be influenced by among others, the findings of a technical team composed of members of his ministry ( custodian of water), Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Security ( interest using the water for agricultural purposes) and Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry ( have a Special Economic Zone ( SEZ) in that area which is for the ministry of Agriculture.
Mzwinila said they have plans to increase the amount of water in Botswana by getting water from the Chobe/ Zambezi River and that has always been their plan. “I must point out that at the present moment, we have a technical team that is working on the strategy and modalities, so far nothing has been agreed and nothing has been concluded”. He said this is a complex project, and requires quality technical expertise as well as quality financial expertise. The technical team made up of different experts from different ministries are hard at work on both the technical and financial issues of the project.
“What is of paramount importance is that for Botswana to abstract water from Chobe/ Zambezi River, neighbouring states have to agree, therefore currently, the consultative process with neighbours is ongoing.
“This is international water; one does not do as he pleases when harbouring interest to use it. But, you have to agree with other countries that we share the river with”. Mzwinila said with all of this going on, it would be counterproductive for anybody to jeopardise talks. “We cannot be jeopardising our technical team’s integrity by wrong or misinformation. “We are not jeopardising our consultations and negotiations with other countries by wrong or misinformation”. Mzwinila revealed that his ministry officials and their counterparts meet regularly to discuss this project and that they enjoy good and cordial relations. The scope included Feasibility and Preliminary Design studies to address the abstraction of 495 million m3 of water per annum from the Chobe/ Zambezi River System at Kazungula in the Chobe District. Botswana requires about 345 million m3 of water per annum from the Zambezi River for agricultural purposes, mainly for the proposed Zambezi Integrated Agro- Commercial Development Project ( ZIADP). In addition, the anticipated future water deficit due to domestic, institutional, mining and industrial demand in the South Eastern part of Botswana is about 150 million m3 per annum. In order to meet these demands, the water transfer scheme was designed to convey 495 million m3 of water per annum from the Chobe– Zambezi River at Kazungula in the Chobe District through inter alia, Pandamatenga, Nata, and Tonota. This pipeline transfer scheme will finally discharge into the existing North- South Carrier Water Project at Break Pressure Tank ( BPT1) near Selebi Phikwe. The pipeline is part of the envisaged multibillion Pula project, which is meant to bring water from the Chobe– Zambezi River to Gaborone with feeders along the route to other places such as Maun, Letlhakane/ Orapa and Selibe Phikwe.