Mwanakatwe hails MCA Compact implementation

THE Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact has been implemented with the highest level of integrity, transparency and accountability with consistent engagement of key stakeholders, Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe has said.

Ms Mwanakatwe commended the United States of America (USA) acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for the generous gift of $355 million to support the implementation of the Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage (LWSSD) project. She said Government had demonstrated its commitment and gratitude to the American people by meeting its obligation under the Compact. Government had contributed over US$22 million and was committed to contribute a further US$28 million to support the completion of the works beyond November, 15, 2018. Ms Mwanakatwe was speaking in Lusaka at the LWSSD Millennium Challenge Account Zambia Compact Closure exhibition to celebrate the successes scored under the project as the Compact term was coming to an end with 14 projects that had been implemented. She said as both countries were celebrating the event by expressing shared value between them for good democratic governance, economic growth and poverty reduction. And MCC vice president, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Jeanne Hauch said the Compact partnership with Zambia had accomplished MCC’s $355 million investment and was expected to benefit over 1.2 million people in and around Lusaka in the next 20 years. Ms Hauch said MCC and government rehabilited and constructed more than 21km of drains in Lusaka to reduce flooding and decrease the spread of diseases adding that the cornerstone was the investment master plans for the water supply and sanitation that had been developed under the compact. She said as MCC marked the end of the five years, Millennium Challenge Zambia Compact looked to the Zambian Government and its citizens to continue their commitment to maintain and further develop the work they had accomplished together. “We consider not just the investment made by the American and Zambia governments but what role we all must play to sustain them and continue to provide quality service to the Zambian people,” she said. Meanwhile MCA board chairman Fredson Yamba said as the Compact was coming to an end substantial progress had been recorded with the completion rate at 92 percent as at the end of September 2018 with the exception of two sub projects in respect of which contracts were terminated. Mr Yamba explained that the two contracts that were terminated in respect of the water and sewer reticulation in Mtendere and Kamanga (CP3) and Non-Revenue Water Reduction (CP 6) had since been awarded to a new contractor and were expected to be completed in August, 2019.