Sata ‘spells out’ big water supply, sanitation programmes

-President Michael Sata has disclosed that government has mobilised a total of US$355 million, which translates to K1.8 billion grant through the United States Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation to improve water supply, sanitation and drainage systems in selected townships of the city of Lusaka.

President Sata said this project will contribute to the improvement of health and economic productivity of more than 1.2 million people in the city.

In his facebook update page, the Head of State said some of the major activities of the project include infrastructure investments that are focused on expanding Lusaka’s water supply network, rehabilitation and enlarging sewer networks and improving the city’s drainage.

Mr. Sata said so far 90 percent of engineering designs and 65 percent of the drainages have been completed.

“I wish to share with you our government’s efforts to improve the living standards of our people. So far 90 per cent of engineering designs and 65 percent of the drainage have been completed,” the President said.

In June 2012, government launched the U$S63 million Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Project which aims at improving access to water supply and sanitation services to the people of Kitwe, Kalulushi and Chambishi towns in the Copperbelt province by rehabilitating and extending water supply and sanitation systems in the three urban areas and the progression rate of this project is 71 percent.

During the one-year period from 2012 – 2013, a total 5,696 boreholes were drilled in various parts of Zambia’s rural areas at a total cost of K255 million.

President Sata said Luapula province benefited the largest number of 1,224 boreholes, followed by Northern with 980, Copperbelt with 631 and Western province is the least with 161 drilled bore holes.

Others are newly created Muchinga province with 587, Southern with 562, North Western with 542, Eastern with 418, Central with 391 and Lusaka with 200 boreholes.

Mr. Sata further said government would this year continue with the construction and rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation infrastructure across the country in order to ensure that more women and the vulnerable communities benefit from improved water supply and sanitation investments.

Meanwhile, Matero Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Miles Sampa declared his area in Lusaka today a ‘no pit latrine’ area.

Mr. Sampa, who is also Commerce Deputy Minister, urged the Matero residents to be paying their water bills regularly and avoid vices of theft and vandalism.

He was speaking today during the official launch of the third connection works of the Maiteneke water and sanitation project being undertaken by the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) in his constituency.

He observed that unplanned settlement, dilapidated infrastructures and poor bill payment culture by the residents has contributed to blocked sewer systems thereby denying the residents access to the water.