Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWSCO) has said preliminary studies for the improvement of the water supply system at Maamba Collieries have been completed.
SWSCO Operations Manager Charles Shindayile told ZANIS in an interview on Tuesday that at the end of this month the company would start running the Maamba Collieries water Supply system.
Last month Local Government and Housing Minister Sylvia Masebo announced that government had revoked Maamba Collieries operating license to supply water to the residents because the company failed to run it.
Maamba residents have for many years complained of dirt water that Maamba Collieries was supplying and many health personnel described it as unfit for human consumption.
Mr. Shindayile observed that there were a lot of things that needs to be done in terms replacing the hardware which would take some time because it required more capital.
He said SWSCO would be in charge of treating the water that would be supplied to the community for domestic use while Maamba Collieries would continue to take care of the raw water that is used for washing coal.
The Operations manager also noted that his company would maintain the Maamba Collieries’ social responsibility of providing free water to the villages.
Maamba Collieries polluted the stream that passes where villagers had settled and they were providing free untreated water to the community.
The Villagers through their Councilor Peter Siavuulwe raised concern that SWSCO’s taking over the operations of running the water system would deprive them the free service they were enjoying.
[ZANIS]
Zhamahala shakamana. Spoon feeding has its own disadvantages. It is high time people started paying for the services in order for them to appreciate. The villagers should be given tasks to do in exchange for their water that way they will be careful in utilizing the water.Water for work. There is usually carelessness in spending if a person never sweated for the thing.
What the hell are u talking about no. 1. People are being given water not fit for human consumption and u think this is spoon feeding?
Water is life. Access to clean water must be made into a national human right, along with education, medical care and partial ownership by the state of essential industries eg. mining, energy, etc.