Friday, March 29, 2024

Nothing is free in Zambia, pay for water- Mwale

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LOCAL government minister Vincent Mwale says nothing is for free in Zambia and people will have to pay for water services.

And Mwale says water utilities will experience challenges arising out of changes and ripples in the economy.

He said this when he opened the Copperbelt Water Operators Partnership fourth annual national seminar in Ndola yesterday.

” If you are not able to collect in time, all the bills that are sent out, cash flow problems set in, which in turn, impact on the ability to cover operating expenses and extend service coverage. There is nothing for free. People need to pay for water services,” Mwale said.

” So dialogue with your customers. Make them understand why they should pay for water. Delayed bill payments and huge arrears can greatly undermine your capacity to deliver water and provide sewerage services in that you depend on a constant stream of revenue from customers in order to survive.”

He said local councils should also involve water utilities when planning for new development areas.

” I wish to state here that government recognizes the difficulties that utility companies face in dealing with the problems of non-revenue water and serving low-income communities. It is a drain on your limited resources,” he said.

And Mwale said water utilities need to be innovative and to change with time.

” As water utilities you will experience challenges arising out of changes and ripples in the economy. Adapt quickly. Know that water is a service. Water is Life. Water is a right. You deal with a commodity that supports life,” he said.

Mwale further said Councillors should desist from being plot sellers.

Meanwhile, kafubu water and sewerage company managing director Athanasius Mwaba said the objective of the project was to contribute to better governance and management in the Zambian water sector.

20 COMMENTS

  1. Do not insult Zambians, you monkey. Nobody said they want free water, but it must be available and safe to use. How do pay for something whose supply is so erratic and most of the time filth and unfit for consumption. People deserve better!

    • Did this good-dressing for nothing minister even pay back his illegal salary which included use of free water, after elections?

    • “Nothing is free in Zambia” says a man who before he got to the podium where he insulted the intelligence of the hard working Zambians, he had stepped out of a car bought for him by the same people, running on free fuel supplied to him by the same people and he would leave that podium to eat and drink free food and later spend a night for free all courtesy of the same Zambians he is mocking.

      And what meaningful contribution has Mr Mwale ever made to this country?

    • Maybe becasue during campaign you promised free water. Remember what you promised and stick to it. Where are the solar millings which you promised mealie meal will be cheap with the coming of these millings? Today Mealie Meal is K95 from K70?

  2. Every one else in zambia must pay for everything but ministers get everything free , rent ,talk time ,fuel ,electricity everything is free on top of their looting

  3. Lusaka Times please mind the kind of advertisements you put on your site. Not all peolple visiting are 18 years and or older.

  4. let them pay for that dirty and irational water. Hon mwale make sure that those voters are paying for that water pantu bola naikosa.

  5. u can look at it 2 ways. yes supply is erratic.. maybe bcs ppl dont pay?

    anyway, the supply should be consistent and 24 hrs a day. Excuses of powercuts are not the problem of the customers,..but the problem of the supplier. Unluckily too must enterprices are not meant to increase customers satisfaction but more the level of profit

  6. hor mwale I like you you are young nd u look mmmmmmwa but one thing u have anoid me is you have insulted me in person buy talking nonses abt water here in chifubu we do pay for water every month nd we only enjoy water in 2 hrs what is that thats insult but have forgiven you next tym mind the way u talk

    • Just look at your obsessions – his looks instead of the garbage coming out of his mouth. No wonder you do not get the water that you need. You are trivial.

  7. Vincent was addressing the utility company, and am sure thats the most humble way. did you expect him to say people should not pay? surprisingly, comments are coming from all corners including those that draw water from sichifulo river in Dundumweezi. Okay, i have reversed his sentence – people must not pay for water, everything is for free. Am i a better minister?

  8. #WTF!! People understand very well that they need to pay, but for quality services. How do you expect someone to pay a bill for the whole month, when water was available only for 2 weeks??

  9. This Minister is absolutely right! let’s start by cutting back on all the free perks government ministers get and diverting that money to public utilities companies. Thank you for reminding people that they already pay for these services through taxes which the government decide to abuse by diverting the funds to pay for these minister’s rock star life styles. I’m sure this chap has never seen a water bill in his life thanks to GRZ?

  10. Zambians have had a a very comfortable life, it is now time to pay for everything you use and stop borrowing from neigbours – Go and work for yourselves. PF government are helping you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Pay for water and those shanties that are full dirty water and rubbish will no longer be breeding mosquitoes – they will dry up as there will be no free water to waste… dance to Dununa Reverse now…! dununa iyeeeee

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