Vice President Inonge Wina has commissioned the K23 million water reticulation project which is expected to enable 18,000 people to have access to clean and safe water in Chongwe district.
Mrs. Wina observed that the district has been facing water blues for a long time due to excessive exploitation of water sources in Chongwe.
Speaking at the commissioning of the water project, Mrs. Wina said abuse of water sources such as Chongwe river and charcoal burning, coupled with the effects of climate change, have contributed to the depletion of water.
She observed that the water reticulation infrastructure will provide safe and clean water for both commercial and domestic use and also improve the hygiene of the people in the area.
“This will subsequently improve the health status of our people especially at this time of the Covid-19 when issues of hygiene are more critical,” she stated.
The Vice President has since cautioned the residents of Chongwe to guard the new water reticulation infrastructure so that they continue to sustainably enjoy the benefits of having sufficient clean water.
“Government has done has its part by giving you water infrastructure, now the onus is on you to guard it jealously,” she added.
She has meanwhile urged the people of Chongwe to acknowledge that there is a cost attached to accessing clean and safe water, stating that they should contribute towards the services that will be rendered.
And Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Raphael Nakachinda said the project will also lead to increased hours of supply from 11 to 22 hours every day.
Mr. Nakachinda noted that the implementation of the water reticulation project in Chongwe is a demonstration of government’s commitment to improving access to water and sanitation in the country.
He revealed that the dividends of the project are already being witnessed adding that the supply of clean water has caused a reduction in waterborne disease in the district.
“Government has managed to improve access to water in the country, which was at 64 percent in 2014 to 72 percent. We have also seen improved access to sanitation from 25 percent in 2017 to 54 percent,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo said government is planning to expand the Chongwe river to further improve access to safe water in the district.
And Chongwe Member of Parliament Japhen Mwakalombe observed that the provision of safe and clean water will reduce the distances that people used to cover to access water.
In a vote of thanks, senior chieftainess Nkomeshya of the Soli people in Chongwe district pledged to work with government in promoting development in the area.
Improved access to clean and safe water is one of the programmes outlined in the seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and the Vision 2030.
BA LT WHERE IS THE PICTURE OF THE WATER PLANT? JOURNALISM YENU, YOU STARTED WITH VERY POOR REPORTING AND YOU ARE STILL A VERY POOR NEWS MEDIA. IN FACT YOU GO DOWN EVERY DAY. YOU NEVER IMPROVE. EMPLOY AN EDUCATED EDITOR. IT APPEARS YOU ARE JUST A BUNCH I DON’T CARES.
They know that seat is tightly contested in opposition they know the Chieftain’s daughter also among them with Silyva.
Upnd diasporans above fuseke. TukaIa twenu
They will lose the seat thisw coming August. PPF only narrowly won last time around with false promises, and apart from this (far too small) water project they have done NOTHING for the area. So people are very disappointed and surely will turn their backs on corrupt PF.
Continue with your last minute projects but Sylvia masebo is grabbing this seat from you in August.
President Lungu has purchased NINE farms in the Kanakantapa/Chongwe area in the last four years, and even now NOTHING has been done on the appalling conditions of the roads. And people in the area are sick and tired of his son speeding through the area. Sylvia Masebo, indeed will take this seat and sort the corrupt Lungu family out.
Less than FOUR months to go before the corrupt PF misery will be HISTORY…..!
I just feel we should bring back bill 10 and insert a clause that Zambia should have elections every year, you can imagine all the stalled projects are coming to life just in this single year. There is empowerment funds every where, every corner. It is just retirees who are not getting the money they practically worked for and students whose meal allowances were grabbed but the rest are getting free money, even churches for doing completely nothing.