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—–Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company has proposed an upward adjustment of water tariffs for Muchinga and Northern Provinces in the next three years.
Chambeshi, which provides water services to Muchinga and Northern Provinces, has proposed to increase the tariffs by 80 per cent in the next three years.
According to its proposal, the water utility company wants to increase the tariff by 59 pre cent in 2015, 9 pre cent in 2016 and 12 per cent in 2017.
Finance Director at Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company, David Tembo, said the proposed increase in tariff is in view of the market price increases and annual rate of inflation which is about 9 per cent.
He added that the tariff increment is also expected to cushion the impact as a result of electricity tariff increase by the Zesco.
Mr Tembo said this during the stakeholders meeting on the proposed water tariff for 2015-2017 held in the Kaputa District Council Chamber over the weekend.
He called for people’s support of the proposal, saying the increase in tariffs is likely to improve the provision of quality water to the public.
Meanwhile, Kaputa Water Rehabilitation Project Manager, Luckson Simumba, said the K27 million water and sanitation rehabilitation project in the district may not be completed owing to a number of
challenges in the project.
Mr Simumba said Tomorrow Investment, who are working on the project, has been facing challenges like inadequate financing to change of scope making it difficult for them to do the works as planned.
He said the contractor has since applied for work extension which is yet to be approved.
He has also disclosed that Chambeshi Water and Sewerage Company is expected to install prepaid
meters to institutions and houses during the project.
However, stakeholders have urged the company to improve its water supply before considering tariff adjustments.
The stakeholders said they have no objection in the increase but that the increase should translate in quality services to consumers.
They also advised the company to ensure that the current water rehabilitation project in the district is sped up so that people can start accessing quality water.
The proposed water tariffs are expected to be approved by the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) before the company can effect the proposal.
