Africa-Press – Lesotho. With the ongoing global health threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), some of the human needs are exposed to challenges. The proper sanitation being essential in the fight against this disease, as people
are encouraged to maintain hygiene at all times to lessen the chances of infections. The million dollar question remains, how will the communities that lack access to clean running water keep this deadly virus at
bay? Owing to lack of proper sanitation, the Quthing residents revealed their sufferings which they undergo on a daily basis at a public gathering held on
Wednesday this week. Present at the public meeting were the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Hon. Kemiso Mosenene and the Deputy Minister of Water,
Hon. Lepota Sekola along with the Rural Water Supply (RWS) officials. Speaking about the problems of sustainable access to potable water, the Mjanyane Council Chairperson Mpeli Kaibane said the
community taps have become “monuments. ” He registered gratitude over the Ministry’s visit to take stock of their situation. The affected villages are
Mabitseng, Lekhoba, Tšepong, Ha-Khakhau and Ha-Mahle-hlele. Sekola promised to assign their personnel to “fix” the taps. The Deputy Minister further told them that as a long term
solution, he will bring a drilling truck. In another place, in the Quthing district at Qomo-Qomong, Ha-Elia the Councilor Thabang Mokete said their springs are overwhelmed.
” He said in their village there are people who still defecate in the open because they do not have toilets in their homes. The Deputy Minister said that the RWS officials will
assess the situation of their springs and also promised to build a water tank. Sekola also promised to build toilets for the villagers in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Quthing RWS’s District Engineer Bafokeng Thooso said his department aims to address the water challenges. Thooso said the COVID-19 came at a worse time when they are already faced with
the challenge of climate change which has an impact on their department. Thooso said his department will carry out an assessment of the situation at Qomo-qomong, Ha-Elia.
He said the process involves checking out the spring yield, that is, how much water the well produces, then do the measurements. The District Engineer said after thoroughly studying
the situation, his department will address the capacity challenges, alternatively if after costing they find the budget fall outside their scope they will engage the Ministry to foot the bills.
Asked why his department does not address the water challenges timely, he said they receive reports late. He also attributed the other challenge to the growing number of consumers hence affecting the springs’ capacity. He concluded that the Councilors also should shoulder the responsibility of maintaining the springs and tanks.
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