ZAMBIA is among 50 other countries that are this week expected to submit new commitments for increased access to water and sanitation at the Sanitation and Water for All partnership high-level meeting to be held in Washington DC, United States.
The Sanitation and Water for all high-level meeting would be opened by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.
Water Aid Zambia country representative Fatoumata Haidara said while there has been some progress from Government on the commitments, there was still a long way to go before the pledges are honoured in full.
This is contained in a statement made available in Ndola by Water Aid Zambia advocacy, research and communications manager, Mundia Matongo.
The high level meeting of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership brings together a coalition of more than 90 partners including developing countries, aid-donor countries, and organisations such as the World Bank and United Nations International Children’s’ Education Fund.
At the last meeting in 2012, Zambia made nine commitments towards increasing access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
About 4.8 million Zambians do not have access to safe drinking water, while 7.8 million people are living without basic sanitation.