VISIT TO CHAMA KICK STARTS EASTERN WATER’S DRIVE TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES FOR WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PROJECTS UNDER CDF
Eastern Water and Sanitation Company Limited kick started its drive to mobilize resources for water supply and Sanitation projects in the province by meeting Chama North Member of Parliament, Honourable Yotam Mutayachalo.
Speaking during the meeting with the MP, EWSC Managing Director Eng. Aaron Mulinda said lack of capital investment to expand the water network system was the greatest challenge faced by the company.
Eng. Mulinda said he was glad that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was revised upwards to carter for the various needs in the constituency.
He expressed hope that the water sector will also get its fair share from the funds allocated under CDF in order to address the water challenges being experienced by Chama residents.
The Managing Director informed the MP that Chama district needed about 104 Million Kwacha in order to meet the demand for improved water supply and sanitation to all Chama residents by 2030.
He however said funding can be phased in view of the limited resources available for various demands.
“We know that this is a very huge amount which cannot be funded at a goal under CDF alone. However, we can still leverage the water supply situation in Chama by phasing the resource requirements within a reasonable time frame.” Said Eng. Mulinda.
Eng. Mulinda assured the MP that the company would continue to explore other avenues in which it can raise the much needed resources in order to improve water supply in Chama.
Meanwhile, honourable Mutayachalo has thanked Eastern Water for taking the initiative to start engaging Members of Parliament in order to improve access to clean water and proper sanitation in their constituencies.
He said the issue of access to clean water gave him sleepless nights as he could not stand to see some people in his constituency sharing drinking water with animals.
The MP said the visit by Eastern Water gave him hope as he was sure that some short to medium term solutions could be found to some of the water challenges being experienced in his constituency.
“I would especially be glad if quick interventions can be found for areas that are very close to the CBD such as Makeni B and the area behind the Hospital. It is unimaginable that even areas that are this close to town people should be waking up at 03 hours to draw water.” Said honourable Mutayachalo.
The MP has since assured Eastern Water that he was ready to partner with the company in order to improve the livelihood of people in his constituency through improved access to clean water and basic sanitation.
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REUBEN MTOLO-PHIRI PLEDGES TO WORK WITH EASTERN WATER TO IMPROVE THE WATER SUPPLY SITUATION IN CHIPATA
Eastern Water and Sanitation Company Limited has assured Chipata central Member of Parliament, Honorable Mtolo Phiri, that the company is committed to resolve the erratic water supply challenges being experienced in some parts of Chipata city.
EWSC Commercial Manager, Mr. Mukela Simbuwa, who was sitting in for the Managing Director, Eng. Aaron Mulinda, said the company was aware of the issue of erratic water supply in areas such as Chimwemwe, St. Anne’s and parts of Old Jim which he said was as a result of the high demand and the dilapidated network system in the city.
He added that the mountainous terrain also contributed to the erratic water supply challenge as areas laying on higher locations experienced more challenges than those on lower locations.
Mr. Simbuwa however assured the MP that the company was doing everything possible to address the situation.
He said the company would continue to provide its services using the available infrastructure but that it had already identified long term solutions to the challenge which included a complete network overhaul and increasing the production capacity at the two water treatment plants.
He explained that government through the support of its cooperating partner, KfW, had so far secured 10 million Euros for Eastern Water to finance the rehabilitation of the water network system in Chipata.
Mr. Simbuwa appealed to the honorable MP to consider supporting the company in sourcing for more funds to address some of the water supply challenges being experienced in Chipata City.
The Chipata Central Member of Parliament has assured EWSC of his support in improving the water supply situation in Chipata Central Constituency.
Mr. Phiri said he had already started talking to some cooperating partners who had since shown willingness to provide solutions to some of the water supply challenges.
He said he would continue engaging Eastern Water until a lasting solution is found to the various water challenges being experienced in Chipata Central Constituency.
Mr. Phiri said this when he paid a courtesy call on EWSC Senior Management Team on a fact finding mission.
