By Kefiloe Kajane
The community of Qoaling Ouplaas in the Maseru district has gone years without a supply of clean drinking water and all they have received are consistent empty promises by government officials.
This week water affairs minister Nkaku Kabi visited the area to hear their grievances about living without the resource for many years.
According to one community member ‘Manapo Mankela, the villagers have gone for years without clean waters despite conducting the Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) for many a times.
A promise that a water tank would be constructed has not been realized forcing them to continue living in conditions of water shortages. The only stand pipe from which they draw water is far from their dwelling. Thus, they are forced to walk long distance to fetch the drinking water.
She was optimistic that Kabi’s visit would bear fruits and speed up any processes for a possible construction of the tank.
“We have never seen water in our lives in this community. It is surprising because we practically leave next to town but those in power forgotten us. We appreciate that the minister of water has come to our rescue with the two refill tanks. It is a good step to the right direction but we do not need temporary solutions,” she said.
Speaking during that visit member of parliament for Qoaling constituency Chalane Phori suggested that the people of Ouplass deserve water services after all the years of water shortages. He said they should not be discriminated against just because they have decided to build their houses under the mountain. He was adamant that as citizens, they deserve services.
“We are putting our hope in the ministry of water that it is going to give this community the water they deserve. This community lives near the Maseru Mall and it makes no sense that they have been denied water supply,” Phori warned.
Kabi promised the community that he would push WASCO to ensure that it construct the water tank as a measure to fulfil their long time promise. He said there was a project in 2018 called Greater Maseru that was meant to help in supplying water in all communities around Maseru under WASCO.
“Until now this project has not been implemented. We are told it was supposed to commence in March but it is now postponed to November. I promise I will come here with the contractor in November.
“I do not know why after so many years the project has not taken off and we are just looking forward to implement the service,” Kabi said.
WASCO’s director of operations Thelejane Thelejane reiterated that the project will start in November this year, observing that it was postponed for several times due to unforeseen reasons.
