Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda has warned contractors undertaking the multi-million Kwacha water and sewerage installations overhaul in the district to make sure the project is completed on time failure to which they risk being surcharged or having their contract terminated.
Mr Chanda however noted that it pleasing that the technology being used by Kruger Veolia, a private company engaged to implement the US$104 million funded Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Replacement Project, was modern.
The Luanshya Mayor and District Commissioner Joel Chibuye held a meeting with Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company, Kruger Veolia top management officials at the Civic Centre, before taking a site visit to do an on the spot check on the rehabilitation works going at water and sewerage plants.
The Mayor said people of Luanshya, who are now receiving a limited supply of water and in same parts no water, have waited for clean and safe drinking water for too long after they were assured that the rehabilitation works would be completed before October and December 2017.
Apart from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) funded project being implemented by Kruger Veolia, Luanshya town is expected to benefit from the US$ 450 million Kafulafuta Water Supply Project.
Luanshya District Commissioner Joel Chibuye advised Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company to see to it that the provisions of the contracts, which state that the contractor should be penalized for failing to complete doing the work within the specified time frame of the period contact are adhered to.
Mr Chibuye also advised Kruger Veolia to ensure that local contractors engaged to do some specific works were given all the necessary support and helped to develop their capacity in the manner the authorities in Zambia were patient with them.
Kruger Veolia contracts manager Nick Lawrence attributed his company’s failure to beat the October 2017 month end deadline after working in Luanshya for more than a year to a number of factors, which among others include failure by foreign suppliers to deliver the goods on time, delayed concrete cement delivery and interruptions in electricity supply by ZESCO.
Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company Regional Manager Rabson Ngulube said explained that the water rationing which was being experienced in some parts of Luanshya was a temporal measure aimed at facilitating for water and sewerage pipes replacement and other rehabilitation works by the contractor.
There is money in Zambia people.
Why is DANIDA funding this project when Kafubu water and sewerage company gets revenue from water bill?It’s not like this company has any competitor in the areas where it operates. Are we just used to begging as a country or what? When Trump says Africa is a sh1thole we start getting throwing tantrums and we can’t even construct our own water supply system 50+ years after independence. Africa is a failed cause. Meanwhile these water companies won’t spare you if you don’t pay water bills meaning that they collect most of the money from their clients. Please stop begging and stealing, We’re tired of being insulted by white people who claim to be wasting their taxes on us when we’re also highly taxed and we pay our bills.