Kutlo Motseta
19th November 2025
Botswana’s government commemorated ‘National Toilet Day’ under the theme, ‘Sanitation in a Changing World,’ at Wagga Gardens, Gaborone.
The event was hosted by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Multi-Waste and Flotek collaborated with them, whilst Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Prisons Services and the University of Botswana were also in attendance.
Director of Water and Sanitation, Innocent Leonard, implored the public to recognise the importance of a simple toilet.
“Special attention must be given to women and children … and those that are vulnerable in those situations … toilets are a starting point … sanitation remains the cornerstone of health and human dignity,” said Leonard.
Diseases are spread through neglect of sanitation. This includes defecating in open space, using pit latrines, improper use of or lack of proper maintenance of public toilets. According to UNICEF, 1000 children below the age of five die daily because of unsafe WASH (water, hygiene and sanitation).
The impact of sanitation far reaching. It affects global greenhouse emission levels, the ability of people to attend to work and school.
“1.2 billion people gained access to safe sanitation in the last couple of years … 3.4 billion are still without access to safe sanitation … access to one is a matter of right and survival … we should use toilets properly, because if we use them properly … that’s one way we can maintain dignity (through cleanliness),” added Leonard.
Sewage system connectivity is at 91% in urban areas whilst it lags at 52% in rural areas.
Ms. Robyn Tompkins of J & J Afrika, commented on the importance of avoiding euphemisms when discussing sanitation, in order to extenuate the implications of neglecting sanitation.
“If one person is not receiving sanitation, all are at risk, starting within the house hold. We should not ‘sanitise sanitation’. Hence we use the word ‘shit’ when we talk to communities”.
Incidentally, phrases such as ‘shit mathematics’ are formally and professionally used in the sanitation industry.
Director of ceremonies, Botsalo Tamuka, supported her explanation saying:
“In the 1990’s people were told to use ‘sekausu’ to avoid HIV and people were going to bed (having sex) in stockings and socks; and they were dying,” said Tamuka.
The word ‘Sekausu’ (condom) is used in the Tswana language to mean a condom but can also be interpreted to mean a ‘foot sock.’ This avoids calling a ‘spade a spade’ to circumvent the embarrassment of speaking about private sexual activities in public, hence the ambiguous language.
Andrew Davies of Multi-Waste commented on Botswana’s potential in the industry.
“We [Multi-Waste] are championing vacuum sewage systems in Botswana … Botswana is a world leader in vacuum sewage systems … the land is ideal for this system because the land is flat and sandy … earlier in the year a ‘Flovak Global Conference’ was hosted and facilitated in Botswana …sanitation is a resource, if we use it properly it can benefit society [and the economy],”said Davies.
Housing conditions adversely affect sanitation. “Our vision is to achieve sustainable and inclusive sanitation … affordable housing … is central to this mission,” said deputy director of Water and sanitation, Stanley Semetsa.
Dr. Lemme Kebabetswe is a microbiologist and Head of Department in Biological Services at the Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences at Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). She illustrated the severity of the problem in Botswana.
“[In] 90% of countries not everyone has access to good sanitation. Everyone wants to be in Gaborone … but the infrastructure does not accommodate everyone,” she said.
She cited an example where she visited a single house with 20 inhabitants, who lived without a functioning toilet due the P20 000 water bill. They paid their neighbours P5 to access the toilet.
Local traditional Chief, Kgosi Richard Moleofe of Broadhurst in Gaborone, shared his sentiments.
“If we really want to win the war, we have to start from kindergarten. Sanitation is a subset of environmental issues we are facing. In Singapore they start educating them at a young age. There is no smoking there. In order to smoke you have to apply for permission to smoke on medical grounds … I am saying this as your chief … let’s teach children the importance of environmental protection …. There is a lot we need to do in this country in terms of environmental protection. Something we talked about is mindset change. In Botswana we are forgetting about this, let’s not forget about mindset change to save our environment,” said Moleofe.
In support of Dr Kebabtswe’s assessments he added:
“I would like [the government] to assist people to connect to sewage systems, so that people can move from the pit latrine [toilet] system to flushing toilets.”
There appears to be a world of economic opportunity in the sanitation industry. The department complained that it travels the world looking for technologies to ease local sanitation problems, as the local private sector does not approach the governmental for business to provide technological solutions.
This also highlighted the need for government and the private sector to consider further incentivising the public to keep the environment clean. Recycling companies compensate recyclers with approximately 25 thebe for an empty beverage drink/beer can. If an economic value attached to more litter, the cities, town and villages would be spotless.
The Director of Ceremonies, Tamaku said, “When shit happens, we turn it into fertilizer.”
