Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSCO) has reiterated that the installation of the pre-paid meters in some parts of Lusaka has had cost benefit for both the company and the residents.

LWSCO Managing Director George Ndongwe said the company has cut down costs in terms of paper work and man power in the areas were they carried out the pilot project.

Mr. Ndongwe told ZANIS in an interview the company no longer prints and delivers bills to the customers, which used to be a costly undertaking.

He added that the company has further cut down costs on meters readers, as there is no need for the company to employ more meter readers.

“The company no longer faces the problem of unsettled bills in these areas because their clients are now prompted to get water units least they run out of water at their premises,” he explained.

Mr. Ndongwe who expressed happiness over the response the company has received from the clients in the areas were they have installed the prepaid meters said his company will soon extend the exercise to some other parts of the province.

LWSCO two years ago embarked on a pilot project of installing prepaid water meters in Libala and some parts of Kabwata..

And residents in Libala have expressed happiness over the company’s installation of prepaid water meters in their area.

Some residents talked to by ZANIS over the weekend said that the use of the prepaid meters was cost saving as they now know how to manage the consumption of water minus any wastage.

One of the residents, Katherine Mwale said people in her area are now cautious with the way they use their water unlike the time when there were no prepaid meters.

“People my area are now careful with the way the use their water because now we know that if we waste water its us who will spend more money on getting water units unlike the time when there were no prepaid meters,” Mr. Mwale explained

She added that most residents are now adhering to the water utility company advice over the need to fix all leaking taps, having short showers and using buckets to water the gardens unlike the use of hose pipes .

And another resident said that the pilot project by the water utility company has been a success and thus the need by the company to extend this exercise to other areas in the province.

David Kapekwe said he now budgets for his water units monthly and that his family’s consumption does not exceed the budget.

“I now budget for my water monthly and fortunate enough my family’s consumption does not exceed my budget,” he said.

He further said that LWSC will be running effectively if it installs these meters in many places because some people are reluctant to pay their water bills hence crippling the company financially.

ZANIS

Government says it is taking deliberate policy decisions to deal with challenges the country’s railway industry is currently facing.

Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said government is working towards ensuring adequate investment, fair competition and reduced fuel levies to help promote growth in the railway sector.

Speaking when he officially opened the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Corridor Multilateral workshop in Lusaka today, Prof Lungwangwa said government is aware of the challenges the railway sector is facing both in the country and the region.

The minister said there is also need to put in place an institutional framework that will facilitate stakeholder participation in order to create an enabling environment which will further promote growth in the railway transport industry.

“The need to put in place an institutional framework that facilitates stakeholder participation in the railway industry becomes paramount. This framework should create an enabling environment which in essence promotes the growth of the railway industry.” He said.

Prof Lungwangwa said the railway industry must be promoted at both national and regional level because of its positive characteristics such as bulk movement of goods at cheaper tariffs, fuel efficiency and environmentally friendly operations.

He urged railway operators in the region to collectively engage in performance improving strategies in view of their available resources to reduce transportation costs and enhance competition on regional products.

And Prof Lungwangwa has urged SARA to engage non member railway operators in the SADC region to reconsider their position.

He said the position taken by such operators not to be members of the SARA is detrimental to the region as it does not promote railway interests in SADC member states.

He stressed that it is only through the active participation of all regional railway that the provisions of the protocol will be fulfilled.

Prof Lungwangwa noted that SARA is a platform for participation and integration of railway operators as it is in line with the railway management groups as enshrined in Article 7.8 of the SADC protocol on transport, communications and meteorology.

“Railway Route Management Groups are enshrined in Article 7.8 of the SADC Protocol on transport, communications and meteorology and as such it is a SADC expectation that all railways in the region participate in these route management groups. Your organization SARA is the right platform for such participation.” said the Minister.

And speaking at the earlier Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Even said RSZ plays a major anchor role for most of the corridors because of Zambia’s central geographical position in the region.

Mr. Even said RSZ will continue to play a coordinative role in the movement of both local and international traffic along the corridors it connects.

He commended government for creating a conducive business environment atmosphere and its continued support to the company.

“RSZ is grateful to the government of the republic of Zambia for creating a conducive business atmosphere and is looking forward to continued support.” said Mr. Even.

The RSZ CEO also expressed confidence that its partnership and coordination with government and other stakeholders will help benefit and enhance social economic development in the SADC region.

SARA was formed in April 1996 following recognition by Southern African Development Community (SADC) railway administrations of the need to establish a strong railways lobby group to pursue advocacy for fair surface transport competition.

ZANIS

Minister of Education has asked the corporate Zambia to supplement government’s effort in the education sector if the country is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) on education.

Education Minister Dora Siliya said in as much as the government is making tremendous achievements in the area of providing universal basic education for all that there is need for the private sector to seek ways of uplifting the standards of education.

Ms Siliya said this when she officiated at the stakeholders infrastructure familiarization tour at Kabulonga Girls high School today.

The Minister said that there was need to improve infrastructure at schools so that pupils learn in a conducive environment.

Ms Siliya, who is also a former pupil of Kabulonga girl high school, said all former Kabulonga pupils should come on board to improve the conditions of the school.

“Let all pupils that passed through this school come back and offer support to the improvement of the school’s infrastructure” she said.

The Minister said government in an effort to improve infrastructure in schools has managed to construct 2,500 classrooms using the community mode of construction, a method where government works closely with communities to construct school infrastructure.

And Access Finance Managing director who spoke on behalf of the corporate partners present David Chewe said its time the corporate world ploughed back to the community by partnering with the government to improve the infrastructure at Kabulonga girls school.

He said every educated person in the country had once benefited from school infrastructure hence the need for them to help improve their former schools.

Mr. Chewe added the country cannot develop without education hence the need to improve the standards of education in the country.

The managing director also pledged to help the school improve its infrastructure in line with his bank’s community responsibility.

And Kabulonga Girls High School Acting Board Chairperson said that the school faces a number of challenges ranging from dilapidated infrastructure to lack of proper apparatus in the laboratories.

Mr. Bright Nyirenda said his board is willing to partner with anyone as long as the assistance is in harmony with the education policy.

And Janet Banda,a grade 12 pupil at the school who spoke on behalf of the pupils said that it was important to educate girl child.

She said that once a girl child is educated she will be able to make informed decisions hence developing the nation.

ZANIS