Government releases money for boreholes in Kasempa

Government releases money for boreholes in Kasempa

Kasempa, February, 26, ZANIS ———Ministry of Local Government and Housing has realized KR 1,050,000 for the sinking of 30 boreholes in 22 wards of Kasempa district.

And in a related development, the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development under the department of Water Affairs is expected to sink two boreholes for monitoring ground water at a cost of about K35 million each.

This was revealed yesterday during a District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) which was held to discuss the progress on the planned activities in all sectors.

Kasempa District Council Planner Kelly Mwebe told the gathering that the demand for safe and clean drinking water has increased as more than 80 submissions for new applicants for water points were received from different communities.

“We are pleased to report that the council has received a total sum of KR1,050,000 from the Ministry of Government and Housing for the purposes of sinking 30 boreholes,” Mr Mwebe said.

Mr Mwebe noted that the council faced challenges in sanitation and hygiene because no funds were allocated in 2012 for the purposes of water and sanitation.

He also said many households had the assumption that latrines should be built by the local authority or donor community and hence posed a challenge in sanitation and hygiene in most rural areas of Kasempa.

Mr Mwebe explained that the negative assumption by the communities led to open defecation adding that with effort by the local authority under a programme to roll out Community Led Total Sanitation, the perception by members of the community has changed.

He disclosed that 531 communities have since stopped using the bush to answer the call of nature and instead constructed pit latrines following the intervention by the council.

Meanwhile the department of Water Affairs Officer In charge Mulenga Chilufya said his department is expected to construct a dam in Kikokomene which is one kilometer from Kasempa town centre.

He said the initiative is a deliberate programme by government to improve the livelihood of people in rural areas and is intended for domestic use and fish farming.

“Works are expected to commence in dry season when all the materials required are procured and resources made available”, Chilufye noted.