The Maun Water Supply and Sanitation Phase II project, aimed at providing sustainable clean water and improved sanitation to Maun and its surrounding villages, is entering its final stages. The remaining phases, Contract 1 and Contract 2, are expected to be finished by the end of this month.
The P3.6 billion project, managed by the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), is divided into four sections. Minister of Water and Human Settlement Onneetse Ramogapi revealed during last Friday’s ministerial budget presentation that Contract 3 and Contract 4 are already complete.
Project Breakdown and Progress – contract 1 , which focuses on extending and upgrading the water and sanitation network is currently at 86% progress (against a planned 99%), Contract 2 which Involves borehole development, transmission pipelines, and a water treatment plant is at 93% progress against a planned 100% while contracts 3 and 4 which involved the construction of two wastewater treatment plants and transmission lines for satellite villages are complete and currently in their defects liability period.
Minister Ramogapi noted that work on Contract 1 is currently suspended due to payment delays. Despite this, he assured that the project is partially operational and already supplying water to Maun residents. On the sanitation side, several major institutions have already been connected to the new sewerage system.
Regarding Contract 2, the Minister explained that delays were caused by power connection issues at the boreholes. However, the ministry is collaborating with the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to finalize these connections and meet the March 2026 completion deadline.
Budget and Timelines:
In a recent interview, Ministry Spokesperson Donnell Kutlapye disclosed that the budget for Contract 1 was revised from an initial P1.87 billion to over P2.55 billion, including P638 million in cost price adjustments. Originally scheduled for completion in September 2022, the contract faced several extensions due to factors beyond the ministry’s control.
Contract 1 was awarded to Zhengtai Group Botswana, utilizing 100% citizen-owned subcontractors including Landmark Projects, AF Sandilands and Son (in joint venture with Pipework Services), and NTR Holdings.
The budget for Contract 2 also saw adjustments, reaching a final figure of approximately P399.8 million, including P46 million in price adjustments. This phase, awarded to China Civil Engineering and Construction in joint venture with Landmark Projects, began in February 2021 and was initially due for completion in February 2023.
The completion of this long-awaited project, which began in 2019, is set to drastically improve Maun’s access to potable water and modern sanitation services, overcoming years of logistical and financial hurdles.
