By Bright Tembo
MANY Lusaka residents living in the densely populated settlements are depending on rainfall water to meet their basic needs because of erratic supply by government, Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) president Jackson Silavwe has said.
Silavwe said the major settlements around Lusaka Province were experiencing erratic or no supply of water.
He urged government to urgently constitute a task force on water supply and sanitation to settlements and residential areas to provide tangible solutions to this emerging and looming crisis throughout the country.
“Many residents in compounds are now depending on rainfall to meet their basic house water needs,” Silavwe said.
“Government must urgently constitute a task force on water supply and sewerage provision to compounds and residential areas to provide tangible solutions to this emerging and looming crisis throughout the country. All the major compounds around Lusaka Province are experiencing erratic or no supply of water. Some compounds around the city such as Kaunda Square, Barlastone, Mandevu, Chaisa, George have not had the commodity for the past two to three weeks.”
Silavwe said the provision of water kiosks by government in densely populated settlements had proven to be expensive for most residents in the affected areas.
“Government’s short-term measures such as water kiosks and water bowsers to compounds have now become increasingly expensive for citizens with the current high cost of living affecting all around the country,” he said.
“For example, a family of six in George Compound is spending close to K45 everyday to meet its basic water needs without even storing the commodity for the next day. In the last few days most of our people have relied of rain water for basic home use.”
Silavwe said Zambia at 60 years should have stable supply of water to all its citizens and make access to safe drinking water a basic human right for all.
He said water was life and it should be treated as such and not just a slogan.
Government should invest in new water reticulation systems.
Water plants, sewerage plants, new drainage pathways, dams in compounds and residential areas had to be constructed.
“Instead of awarding large sums of money to UPND [United Party for National Development] members and supporters through immoral consent judgements, President Hichilema must direct tax payers’ money to water supply and improve the quality of life for our people in compounds,” Silavwe said.
“Golden Party of Zambia, GPZ, urges the government to also do a feasibility study on the implications to the environment, of having a borehole and soakaway pits at each house in emerging compounds and residential areas. Clearly, government’s current water and sewerage management strategies to compounds and residential are in limbo and must be attended to urgently with modern solutions.”
