— Poor Windmill works disappoint Govt

Poor Windmill works disappoint Govt

Lusaka, February 17, 2015, ZANIS —-   Mines, Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary in charge of Water and Energy Charity Mwansa says he is disappointed with the contractor engaged to install windmills in some schools and rural health centres in Western Province.

Ms Mwansa said most of the windmills that she inspected which were recently installed by Watsons Zambia Limited have broken down causing water shortages at the respective schools and health centres in Mongu,Nalolo and Senanga districts.

She said this during her tour of the windmill projects yesterday in Western Province to check on the performance of the windmills which were installed by her Ministry last year.

Ms Mwansa noted that what she found on the ground after inspecting the projects was contrary to the report she received from the contractor stating that the windmills were installed successfully.

Ms Mwansa said the type of windmills installed by the contractor can only operate effectively and pump water when there are strong winds.

"This is wastage of government resources because we put up these windmills so that people can have access to water but these windmills are either failing to pump water or broken down, “she complained.

She said it was saddening to find that some schools and health centres were operating without water for three months because the contractor did not do the correct job.

The visibly annoyed PS directed the contractor to ensure that they put back hand pumps at some schools and health centres that completely did not have water while the Ministry finds a lasting solution to the problem.

And Itufa Primary School Head teacher Lyambai Situmbeko complained bitterly that the installation of the windmill has not helped them in any way because the school has had no water from the time it broke down in December last year.

And Watsons Zambia Limited, Operations Manager Luke Mulenga said the company will ensure that they urgently work on the windmills that were not currently operating so that the affected schools and health centres can have water supply.