HH DESIRES CLEAN, FRESH WATER FOR ALL - DR POLLEN

THE emergency Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) water project in Kitwe’s Kwacha Constituency has suffered a major setback following rampant vandalism, theft and weather challenges which should have been completed in 2023.

Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation (NWSC) Managing Director Steven Mwale said because of rampant theft, vandalism and weather challenges, the project was now expected to be completed in April 2024

Dr Mwale was speaking yesterday when DMMU National Coordinator Gabriel Pollen paid a courtesy call on Kitwe District Commissioner Lawrence Mwanza before touring the project.

The project which was being done in three phases with the first being Bulangililo Extension and KR Water Supply where 10 kilometres of pipe network had been laid in KR with 815 out of 900 connections completed.

The second phase was the upgrading of sewer lines in old Kwacha, Kwacha East and Bulangililo where the upgrading and replacement of the collapsed sewer line over a distance of 1.4 kilometres in Kwacha

East and 522 sewer lines in Bulangililo where works are 99 percent completed

The third phase was the construction of household water borne toilets in Old Kwacha 1, 850 toilets were to be constructed and the works had reached 71 percent completion point.

“The estimated cost to carry out the project was K53 million and was expected to be completed in September 2023, but it could not be completed on the stipulated time because of rampant theft, vandalism and weather challenges and so it was extended to December 2023. The project is now set for completion in April 2024,” Dr Mwale said

And Dr Pollen said the new dawn administration of President Hakainde Hichilema had set high premium on improving water supply and sanitation in various parts of the country

Dr Pollen said the new dawn administration had improved water supply in various parts of the country including in areas which has had no water since independence

He said those who had experienced the good works of President Hichilema were able to testify after seeing their dry taps start running water.