The governments of Japan and Zambia have today signed a K2.34 billion (70 million Japanese yen) grant aid agreement to finance a detailed design study of the ground water development project in Luapula province.
The project is aimed at drilling 200 boreholes which would service at least 50,000 people in the province. The boreholes would be drilled in seven districts of the province.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka today, Minister of Finance and National Planning, Ng’andu Magande said the 200 boreholes would increase the coverage of water supply in Luapula province from 17 per cent to 20 per cent.
“Regrettably, this will still be below the national average rural water supply coverage estimated at 37 per cent,” he said.
Mr. Magande said government was working hard to improve access to adequate, safe and reliable water supply and sanitation services in the country through the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme (NRWSSP) which is already in place.
He said government would further endeavour to implement activities which would build the capacity of local communities to operate and maintain their own water supply facilities.
The minister pointed out that government was still far from covering the majority of the rural communities partly because of lack of a systematic way of providing water.
He paid tribute to Japan for its unwavering efforts to assist Zambia in reducing poverty levels in the country.
“I would like to express our gratitude to your government for its active support in the preparation of the joint assistance strategy for Zambia (JASZ) and other initiatives intended to promote donor coordination and aid effectiveness in Zambia,” he said.
And Japanese Ambassador to Zambia, Hideto Mitamura said at the same function that communities in Luapula province have over the years been subjected to drinking unsanitary water, thereby exposing themselves to contracting water borne diseases.
Mr. Mitamura said the drilling of 200 boreholes would reduce the risk of people of Luapula province from contracting water diseases.
He said the developments in water supply would enable people in the province to concentrate on economic activities while enjoying good health.
“This will facilitate the enhancement of the welfare of the people of Zambia through improved productivity arising from good health thereby contributing positively to the long-term economic and social development of the country,” he said.
He added that this would contribute to the implementation of the fifth National Development Plan running from 2006 to 2010, which considers water and sanitation as a major priority area.
Mr. Mitamura has assured that his government would continue to cooperate with the Zambian one in implementing the plan.
