Luanshya water blues to go

THE perennial water shortage in Luanshya will soon come to an end as the contractor undertaking the US$104 million water and sewerage installations overhaul will hand over the project to government this month.

Veolia Water Technologies and Kruger A/S is doing the rehabilitation with funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Luanshya District Commissioner (DC) Joel Chibuye said DANIDA financed Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company Limited (KWSC) limited a tune of US$104 million to replace water infrastructure and that the project would be completed this month-end. Mr Chibuye indicated that the contractor was expected to be complete and handed over the project in October last year but that it the programme was rescheduled to this month.

He said the investment in the water sector would improve water supply and sanitation and appealed to residents in Roan Township to be patient as works to overhaul the network was nearing completion.

Mr Chibuye said his office was alive to the challenges of erratic water supply and blocked sewer lines in communities during the period that works on the system had been underway. He assured residents that once the water project was completed, services delivery would be improved. “Overhauling of water and waste network is intended to lift standards of quality water and sanitation. Once the project is completed the benefits will be massive. The network system became obsolete but the contractor has done a tremendous job,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mpatamato township water crisis committee chairperson Portrice Chanda said residents had resolved to carry out protest on failure by the utility company to provide a service during the period that works on the water system have been underway.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Chanda said the decision to protest was withdrawn after the utility company assured residents of improved service delivery.