13, 244 Luapula residents to access to cleaner drinking water

About thirteen thousand two hundred and forty four (13, 244) people in Luapula Province will have access to cleaner and safer drinking water through the Small Town Water Supply Sanitation Project implemented by WaterAid Zambia.

Speaking during the official handover of the project to Luapula Water and Sewerage Company in Chief Lubunda’s chiefdom in Mwense District, Luapula Province Minister Brigadier General Benson Kapaya says under the Lubunda Small Town Piped Water Scheme, over 3, 313 people will benefit.

General Kapaya says under the Lubwe Piped Water Scheme about 5, 095 people will have access to cleaner water supply while about 4, 831 people will benefit under the Mwamfuli urban Water and Sanitation Supply will benefit.

In a speech read on his behalf by Joshua Kamanya, the Assistant Secretary to the Provincial Minister, General Kapaya says the project was implemented at a total cost of K3.2 million and has urged people to guard the facilities jealously.

He says WaterAid Zambia supported the improvement of 382 household latrines and that working together with Samfya District Council, they have constructed a fee paying toilet at a market.

Speaking at the same event, Chief Lubunda of the Lunda speaking people of Mwense District says since independence in 1964, the people in his area have not had access to clean tapped water.

Chief Lubunda says the move by WaterAid to bring clean water to his chiefdom is a welcome move which benefit his people with access clean water.

And WaterAid Head of Programmes Saul Banda says over the next three years, WaterAid will aim to reach about 50, 000 individuals with access to toilet which will include households.

Mr. Banda says WaterAid has secured funds and will embark on another project in Livingston, Mwense, Kazungula and Samfya to drill about 130 boreholes in a bid to improve the sanitation conditions of the people.