NWASCO assures the public of increased visibility

The National Water and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) has assured the general public of its increased visibility by providing a better platform for consumers to be involved in regulation through feedback on the quality of service in 2015.

Speaking during a media forum in Lusaka today, NWASCO Director Kelvin Chitumbo says complaints of water supply and sanitation will be dealt with promptly within the stipulated service level time frames in the coming year.

Mr. Chitumbo notes that the council has continued to improve regulatory instruments to ensure quality, affordable and sustainable water supply and sanitation service delivery to the urban dwellers of Zambia.
He says they believe that the sector cannot grow and improve by using the same approaches of the past.
Mr Chitumbo says the NWASCO has since developed new guidelines as well as revised the old guidelines.

Mr. Chitumbo explains that the sector has continued to grow at a slow but steady pace, adding that water and sewerage companies need to concentrate more efforts on increasing hours of supply, improve billing efficiency and expedite complaints handling and resolutions, find lasting solutions to improving water quality challenges, improve metering levels among others.

He adds that the NWASCO board considered tariff adjustments for the period of 2015 to 2017 from Eastern, Luapula, Southern and Chambeshi water and sewerage companies stressing that out of the four only Southern water and sewerage company met 75% of their conditions on the previous tariffs, but rejected the multi tariff proposals because the companies did not meet the minimum conditions for the company.

Mr. Chitumbo further states that Lusaka, Nkana, Mulonga, Kafubu, North western and Lukanga water and sewerage companies have applied for a no objection but will only be granted upon meeting the minimum score of 75% on tariff conditions.

And Devolution Trust Fund Manager Sam Gonga says the country is far from meeting the Millennium Development Goal on sanitation.

Reporting by Lusa Kilale