THE Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has approved the U$ 355 million worth water and sanitation project for Lusaka.
The water project is being funded by the United States government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
It was approved in accordance with requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, Statutory Instrument number 28 of 1997.
Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) managing director George Ngondwe said this in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by marketing and public relations manager, Topsy Sikalinda.
“We are happy the ZEMA has approved the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), we can now go ahead and deal with the other requirements for the project and soon implement the actual construction works which will have direct impact on the more than 1.2 million people in Lusaka District,” Mr Ngondwe said.
LWSC the custodians of the approved water and sanitation components would implement the project which was expected to improve and install new water networks in most parts of the City.
The targeted areas are the eastern side of Lusaka such as Mtendere, Kalikiliki, Kamanga, Ndeke, Kwamwena, Vorna Valley, Ng’ombe, Chipata and SOS East.
Mr Ngondwe said other works to be conducted included the rehabilitation of the Lolanda Water Treatment plant in Kafue which was the major source of water supply for Lusaka District.
The project would also improve sanitation in Mtendere by installing a sewer network to enable residents have flushable toilets.
He said this would improve the quantity of water pumped from Kafue from the current 98 million liters to around 110 million liters per day.
The current water demand for Lusaka was 370 million liters per day while the LWSC’s capacity was only 258 million liters.
ZEMA had no choice in this matter but to approve. In any case they are a useless body . What have they done about concerns at the Lusaka Multi facility zone. They approved development in that area that will dry Lusaka Water Table!!
ZEMA SHOULD HAVE RESEARCHERS, PROFESSORS, TECHNOLOGISTS, GEOGRAPHERS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, PHYSICISTS, CHEMISTS, BIOLOGISTS, ENGINEERS OF ALL COLOURS AND HUES.
BUT LO AND BEHOLD, YOU MAY EVEN WONDER HOW MUCH THEY ENGAGE UNZA, CBU NISIR AND OTHER BODIES TO GUIDE SERIOUS PROJECT EVALUATION.
ANYWAY, WE ARE A DEVELOPING NATION.
HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE NOT EATEN INTO THIS MONEY ALREADY, ALL THOSE PROCESSES YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH BEFORE THE ACTUAL WORK BEGINS REQUIRE MONEY.
WE WANT TO SEE FOR OUR CAPITAL LUSAKA IS QUALITY WORKS WORTH THE $350M YOU ARE MENTIONING THAT WILL IMPROVE OUR IMAGE. IN THIS CASE, WATER AND SANITATION. NO MEDIOCRITY.
OTHERWISE WE SHOULD LET THE NATION’S CAPITAL BE NDOLA.
BA ZEMA NAIMWE MULEBAKO FAST IN DEALING WITH SUCH IMPORTANT PROJECTS
Since when did people start “eating” money?
@Atase, go and re-learn your English.
SO YOU MEAN DONOR FUNDED PROJECT AT THAT COST NEEDS ZEMA TO APPROVE?? LETS SAY THE DISAPPROVED OULD THE MONEY BE GIVEN BACK TO THE DONORS?? SO PLEASE LETS NOT FOOL EACH OTHER ZEMA IS A USELESS And TOOTHLESS BODY
We have had various uncompleted projects, loans left right and centre for over 40 years. Why can’t we just sit down and work out what is required to rebuild our city and put a figure which will be managed over a period of time. We spent money designing the lusaka master plan but all we see is overreaction or begging mentality on major projects. I would rather we borrowed say £4billion to redevelop the entire city or £2 billion to sort out the power shortages once and for all. In the long run, if done properly it would be money well spent. Getting small loans here and there end up in people’s pockets because it projects a sense of activity when in fact money is just being squandered. The master plan should have all the critical areas where donors can pick and choose at their leisure.