SPEECH BY THE HON. MINISTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF MTSEBENI POTABLE WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SCHEME.
VENUE:
GEGE (MTSEBENI COMMUNITY)
DATE:
26TH NOVEMBER 2015.
Programme Director
Bantfwabenkhosi
Hon. Minister- Economic Planning & Development
Bobabe Tikhulu
Regional Administrator
Honourable Portfolio Committee Members of Both Houses of Parliament
Honourable Member of Parliament for Mtsebeni Inkhundla
Principal Secretaries present
Senior Government Officials
National WASH Coordinating Forum
Indvuna Yenkhundla
Mtsebeni Community
Water and Sanitation Committee Members
Members of the Media
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour for me to be present here in this important occasion to officially open Mtsebeni Potable Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme. This is an occasion for great celebration because the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector continues to demonstrate effective collaboration amongst Partners. In particular, this project we are opening today is a result of cooperation between my Ministry and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD) through the Microprojects Programme (MPP).
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I first express my heartfelt sympathy to the entire nation for the prevailing drought that has resulted in the country’s water sources drying up, resulting in the death of many livestock. I have also been reliably informed that the prevailing drought did not spare boreholes, and the majority of the existing community water supply schemes have their sources already drying up. In a special way, may I extend my sincere gratitude to our government and her cooperating partners for providing support to the affected families in a form of food parcels, water etc.
Today we are here to celebrate the successful completion of the Mtsebeni community water supply scheme. I have been reliably informed that the source where this project draws water is a bore-hole which has a potential yield of 2.2 liters per second with a depth of 62metres. I am confident that it will supply the community of Mtsebeni for a long time if it still shows this flow despite the ongoing drought which has since dried up a majority of rivers of the country. I urge the community to use the water sparingly given the prevailing drought challenges.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me immense pleasure to announce that the population to be served by this water supply scheme is approximately six hundred and Eighty (680) people including National Care Points (N.C.Ps), churches and other government institutions that serve the community. The successful completion of this scheme through the community participation shows that the community is committed towards the sustainability of this project. This is further confirmed by the fact that the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Committee that will manage this scheme at local level has already been formed and trained on maintenance.
Another point to note is that this community managed to achieve 100% sanitation coverage with the Ministry of Health’s guidance. May I also extend my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Health for the continued collaboration with my Ministry. I have received reports that my officials have a smooth working relationship with the Ministry of Health officials in the implementation of the water and sanitation programmes.
Further to this, I have learnt with appreciation that the community has contributed over Thirty Thousand (E30, 000.00) Emalangeni towards the operation and maintenance of this scheme. This contribution shows the commitment and ownership of this project by the beneficiaries. I therefore, implore you to continue cooperating with the Committee which you elected whenever your participation and contribution towards the maintenance of the scheme is required. This is the only way to ensure sustainability of the scheme so that it will last to benefit future generations.
Having said this, I would like to strongly urge the community to use the acquired skills to manage this water supply scheme effectively. In the event you encounter any maintenance problems pertaining to this project that you cannot deal with, you must not hesitate to call upon the Ministry for assistance through our regional office.
I am pleased to announce that this community water supply scheme was fully funded by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD)-Micro Projects Programme (MPP) with funds amounting to E1, 633, 096.71 while my Ministry provided technical guidance and supervision throughout the project cycle until completion.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
His Majesty’s Government has made it a priority to provide clean water for all by 2022 as stated in the National Development Strategy (NDS) and His Majesty’s vision of attaining the First World Status. On the same vein the United Nations member states have ended the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a new universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years. During the development of the SDGs, consultations resulted in a call for action to ensure universal access to safe drinking water at home, and in schools, health centers and refugee camps. These results led to the UN member states coming up with a distinct goal (Goal no. 6) on water and sanitation; to "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all". Therefore, this will be a vehicle to attaining the first world status by 2022 whilst engaging on the SDGs. My Ministry is committed to continue supplying clean water to the Nation and we have since realized that without Goal no. 6, the other sustainable goals and targets will not be achieved. Therefore, I view this as critical wherein my Ministry has to strengthen collaboration with the Ministry of Health where sanitation is housed, to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. I also urge development partners and WASH partners including government departments to strengthen collaboration with my Ministry and support us in this endeavor in order for the country to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good example of a collaborative effort between my Ministry and WASH partners is the successful implementation of a water point mapping study that seeks amongst other things, to determine the number of water supply schemes that exist in the rural communities. This monitoring tool also ascertains the functionality status of all existing water supply schemes and establishes current national water supply coverage and access.
The results of the study will inform in the planning of investments to improve water supply and sanitation coverage in the country and develop a programme of action. Consequently, this exercise will also be instrumental to the Government of Swaziland and her Cooperating Partners in terms of allocating resources and to deliver basic services where they are most needed. The ultimate goal would be to measure progress and performance in the water and sanitation sector towards meeting the set national and international goals.
Special appreciation goes to the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD) who continues to support my Ministry to achieve the set goals. I have been reliably informed that the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD) has funded a number of water supply schemes with some still under construction. This support and collaboration is highly valuable.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the continued collaboration by Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) partners which include amongst others; UNICEF, International Relief for Development (IRD), and other Government Ministries which contribute towards my Ministry’s goals and programmes. As earlier mentioned, the Ministry is committed to His Majesty’s Vision of the First World Status and I am gratified to mention that without the collaboration of all the mentioned co-operating partners my Ministry cannot achieve the targeted 100% coverage on clean water supply in the country by 2022.
Last but not least, may I also take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to the officials from all the government Ministries that collaborated in the implementation of this community water supply and sanitation scheme.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all those who made the preparations for this occasion and those who participated in all the activities that we have witnessed thus making it the success that it has been.
With these few remarks, it is my pleasure to declare Mtsebeni Community Water Supply and Sanitation scheme officially opened.
Thank you and May God Bless us All.
“WATER IS LIFE, SANITATION IS DIGNITY”