STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI
DURING A VISIT TO HAWANE DAME
WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2016
Honourable Ministers
Chief Executive Officer of Swaziland Water Services Corporation
Government officers working on the Hawane Project
Representatives of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen
In the days before big weaponry warfare, a general would always need to visit the battlefield to obtain the most informative understanding of the latest situation. Even in the long range, remote-control artillery battles of the present day, the leaders will always require an appropriate high-tech insight of the battleground.
That is the position we are in today. Except our battle is one of improving the water supply situation in our capital city Mbabane, in Ngwenya and surrounding communities. We are visiting one of the numerous sites that are presenting the greatest challenges in the drought conditions that El Nino has so relentlessly brought to us over the past months.
And in common with the more effective generals of history, we are not immersing ourselves in a blame culture. Drought is a natural phenomenon which cannot be prevented. Yes, you can spend vast amounts of money building new dams. But the cost of such investments is enormous and extremely difficult to absorb within a public sector budget of the size of that of Swaziland. And it should be borne in mind that water harvesting of that nature has to meet criteria and conditions agreed with neighbouring countries which share the respective water sources. Furthermore, Mother Nature does not set out her plans for El Nino, and other challenging weather behaviour, which would enable us to take a balanced view of our harvesting needs and their affordability.
We are, therefore, focusing on how we can best to tackle the challenge of a capital city faced with highly unusual weather conditions that have brought severe water rationing to our seat of government. And a situation that is expected to deteriorate further before we see a viable level of improvement in water supply.
The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister was here on 9 December last year to assess the situation. Even after the recent rains there has not been much improvement. While hugely disappointing we have endeavoured to take the bull by the horns and pursue urgent remedial action.
Hawane Dam was completed in November 1986 and the reservoir filled in February 1987. The level of water in the reservoir remained at, or near, spill level until April 1992, when releases were made to boost the flows in the Black Mbuluzi River at the Woodlands intake. Structurally the dam is still in perfect condition and the accumulated silt, although inconvenient at the present time, is actually within the design specification.
The Government has decided to take advantage of the dry spell to excavate and de-silt the dam to further increase the storage capacity by 10-20%. This will involve removing years of sand, deposited together with the inflow of water that filled the dam during the times of normal weather conditions. The de-silting is an expensive business, especially utilising private contractors and could have cost as much as E30 million. So we have, instead, re-directed a considerable amount of Government's mechanical plant and equipment to achieve this task.
We do appreciate that the dredging and excavation of the dam will not bring immediate relief to the prevailing situation, but this measure is to improve our facilities to best tackle similar circumstances in the future.
Today we are examining the problem faced by this part of the country. That is not to ignore Government's deepening concern regarding other areas in Swaziland that are far more seriously affected. Let me at this point assure the Nation that the Drought Mitigation Plan has been finalised and talks are underway with our donors with a view to mobilising the substantial amount of resources needed to ensure that all our people are with food and water during the period of the drought.
In the meantime, I can confirm that Government is working towards implementing interventions that include the planned construction of the Nondvo and Ethemba dams. These will allows a wider range of management options during periods of low rainfall and runoff, which is why we are ensuring that these two dams should be large, deep, and both strategically located and structurally reliable. Funded by the African Development Bank the feasibility study for the Nondvo Dam, will be carried out by consultants in the very near future.
In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation to all the Government officers who are involved in this work, including the employees of Swaziland Water Services Corporation. I further want to express His Majesty’s Government’s appreciation to the land owners of Hawane, especially the Borrel family, who are allowing us to deposit the silt on their land at no cost to the Government. That is impressive evidence of a fine community spirit.
On behalf of His Majesty's Government I wish all those involved in the de-silting project a successful outcome to their work.
Thank you.