Botswana’s population and water demand are growing at a high rate particularly in the
dry south eastern part of the country. In 1999, a Water Conservation Policy and Strategy
framework document was formulated to guide a transition from a supply driven water
management approach to water demand management. The implementation of the
framework recommendations started in 2002. Although Botswana is said to be one of the
countries in the region with a good choice of policy and analytical frameworks, it is also
said to lack the capacity to effectively implement them. Through a qualitative approach,
this study investigated whether there was a disparity between the framework policy and
strategy recommendations and their actual implementation. The study used documentary
sources and open-ended interviews to establish information from the three water supply
authorities with particular interest in Southeast Botswana. The key areas of interest to the
study were Mogobane, Otse, Ramotswa and Tlokweng villages, as well as, Lobatse town
and Gaborone city. The findings of the study revealed that although some of the
recommendations had been implemented, their implementation was not in the
recommended order and manner. As a result, coordination of the water conservation and
demand management programme is difficult to achieve and as is achieving the horizontal
accountability of stakeholders as part of monitoring the programme’s progress. Further to
the findings, the study recommends restructuring of the programme’s administrative
structure to empower all stakeholders and enforce empowerment and ownership of the
programme. In addition, the study also recommends that the Water Conservation Policy
and Strategy framework document be communicated to all stakeholders at all levels
(particularly the public) in order to create the necessary transparency, understanding and
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accountability enforcement that is needed when the document is fully developed into an
enacted policy document.