14 May 2009
THE Government has attributed the recurrence of water-borne diseases such as cholera to poor sanitation and called for immediate improvement of the sector in order to save lives.
Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister, Lwipa Puma said in Ndola yesterday that sanitation had received less attention as compared to water supply by most water utility companies.
Dr Puma was speaking during the Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company (KWSC) commissioning of the old Kanini and Lubuto Sewerage treatment plant.
He said the neglect of the sanitation sector cut across boards of utility companies, local authorities, the Government, development partners and civil society.
"The impact of this imbalance can be seen in the recurrence of water borne diseases such as cholera," he said.
Dr Puma said the other causes of the poor standards of sewerage systems was the tendency by developers to provide poorly constructed houses that had no toilet facilities and sewerage networks.
Dr Puma said the sewer service providers were now under excessive pressure to provide services with a system that was already strained.
The health services providers were equally forced to attend to emergencies, which could be avoided by providing clean water and adequate sanitation facilities.
Dr Puma said the Government was therefore developing the water and sanitation policy and the national urban water and sanitation programme to address the national sanitation demands up to 2025.
He said he was happy that Kafubu had recognised the importance of sustainable maintenance of infrastructure.
The Danish government provided US$200,000 while Kafubu contributed $150 000 for the rehabilitation of the treatment plant.
And the Danish Ambassador to Zambia Thomas Schjerbeck, said it was important and encouraging to be a donor for an effective partner like Kafubu.
Mr Schjerbeck said the population of Ndola had trebled since the 1980s.
He said the new infrastructure should not only be prevented from vandalism or just maintained, but developed a cope with the current population.
The envoy said he would consider the request from the board to help in the second phase of the project.
Kafubu board chairperson Committee Njase, said at the same occasion that the plant, which was closed for about 20 years had been restored because the utility company was mindful of its huge responsibility to provide sanitation services to the people.
Bishop Njase said the company still required $420,000 to complete all the works.
And Kafubu managing director, Ian Banda said his firm would ensure that the Kanini and Lubuto treatment plant was maintained and guarded jealously to serve the residents to full capacity.
Mr Banda pledged that Kafubu would endevour to provide quality services to clients with the little resources available.
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