Improved water, sanitation infrastructure critical, says visiting MCC top official
By MUKOSELA KASALWE STRENGTHENING water and sanitation infrastructure is critical to ensure improved access to clean water by people in Lusaka, says visiting Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) principal deputy Vice President of Compact Operations, Africa Division, Kyeh Kim.
Ms. Kim is in Zambia to assess progress of the implementation of the Lusaka Water Supply Sanitation and Drainage (LWSSD) project which is funded by MCC and implemented through the Millennium Challenge Account-Zambia (MCA-Zambia).
The LWSSD is rehabilitating and expanding Lusaka’s water and sanitation network in coordination with the Lusaka Water and Sewage Company (LWSC) and the Lusaka City Council (LCC).
Ms. Kim on Saturday inspected the Kaunda Square Waste Stabilisation ponds and the Mazyopa drain—both scheduled for completion this December.
The Kaunda Square ponds would provide increased access to sanitation for over 156,000 households in Lusaka—an almost nine-fold increase from the ponds’ original design capacity of 18,000 beneficiaries.
“Improved access to clean water and sanitation has the potential to change lives and create opportunities for people across Lusaka,
“Strengthening this critical infrastructure helps to establish a foundation for continued growth and progress in Zambia,” she said. In a statement issued by MCA director communications and outreach Dr John Kaunda, at the weekend, said the delegation toured an existing water kiosk where residents currently wait for long hours to access clean water.
Dr Kaunda said the project aimed to ensure that clean water became more accessible and reduce the time spent transporting water. He said the MCC delegation met with senior Government officials, who included Minister of Finance Felix Mutati; Minister of Local Government, Vincent Mwale; and Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Lloyd Kaziya.
Ms. Kim, was accompanied by Ms. Adrienne Spero, MCC White House Liaison, and Mr. Dan Petrie, Associate Director, MCC Congressional Affairs.
She said the compact also supports implementation of a variety of institutional capacity building activities, including improving asset management at LWSC and supporting social inclusion and gender mainstreaming at LWSC and LCC.
Ms Kim said this was in an effort to improve the environment and alleviate the burden of clogged drains, which the city faces every rainy season, the Zambian Government and LCC have agreed to establish an autonomous solid waste management unit to improve garbage collection.
MCC is an independent U.S. Government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth.
Using a country-led approach reflecting countries’ own priorities, MCC provides give-year grants (known as compacts) to countries that meet rigorous standards for good governance.
The Zambia Compact is currently in the fourth year of the five-year agreement.