THE Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Zambia will fully implement the US$350 million robust water and sanitation project in Lusaka in May next year.

This came to light during a briefing at the MCC offices in Washington DC situated at 875, 15th Street NW.

Andrew Moyock, the Deputy Vice President, Department of Compact Operations for East and Southern Africa said by May or June next year, "the clock for the multi-billion dollar project for Lusaka will start clicking."

In March this year, the MCC and the Zambian Government signed a five-year $355 million compact aimed at reducing poverty through economic growth.

Under the project, most of the Lusaka drainage systems would be worked on, the sanitation improved, while the water supply line from Kafue into Lusaka would be worked on to ensure that most households could have adequate water supply.

"In the long run, poverty for many people will be reduced, while the economy of the people of Lusaka, and eventually the country, would be improved. More than one million people are expected to benefit from this compact," Mayock said.

He said the local management team of the compact in Lusaka was currently putting in place all the logistics including employing of appropriate staff so that by May/June next year, the five-year project could commence.

Flanked by Programme Analyst Krystal Beckham, he said the activity would include support to infrastructure managed by the Lusaka Water and sewerage Company (LWSC), the utility primarily responsible for managing the city's water and sanitation infrastructure, as well as the Lusaka City Council (LCC), the local government entity responsible for managing Lusaka's drainage infrastructure.

A major portion of the investment was focused on the rehabilitation of Lusaka's core water supply network, including components designed to reduce non-revenue water.

It would also include interventions designed to expand the city's water supply network, rehabilitate and enlarge select sewer networks, improve select drainage infrastructure and provide support for engineering and resettlement professional services.

Each of the water supply and sanitation components was selected based on investment master plans and feasibility studies, while the drainage component was selected based on the results of priorities identified in a separate comprehensive plan funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

And the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) says it will continue supporting HIV interventions in Zambia.

This came to light at another briefing held at the Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator in the United States Department of State situated at 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.