The Lusaka Water and sewerage Company (LWSC)says it has embarked on a project seeking private sector partnership in its maintenance of its water networks.
ZANIS reports the Utility company ‘s Managing Director George Ndongwe explaining that the main objective of the
Project is aimed at improving efficiency of water supply networks.
Mr. Ndongwe explained that his company will subcontract certain functions or maintenance, to Small Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) specializing in water network repairs and leak detection
He explained that in order to achieve the objective LWSC and CDE have embarked on a programme to train SMEs in effective water network repairs and leak detection.
The Utility company’s chief was speaking at a media briefing held at LWSC headquarters in Lusaka today.
Mr. Ndongwe notes that vandalism and breakage of water pipes are some of the major challenges the company encounters.
He said due to vandalism and leakages, the company losses about K 50 billion annually.
“44 percent production is lost through physical losses like leakages which occur sometimes underground and cannot be seen and we have pipes that are which are quite old about thirty years old and can easily burst.
“ Commercial losses are encountered through administrative errors and sometimes incoherence’s in meters reading also lead the company to record losses,” he said.
He notes that empowered with training and skills SMEs be able to help the company address water leakages and will be able to compete on the local market and to become more active in subcontracting or alliances with foreign companies.
He added that the SMEs will be selected through an open and transparent procurement process.
And CDE Director of project Claude Jamati said the project will cost a total of 300 000 Euros.
Mr. Jamati explained that CDE launched a programme to strengthen the capacity in maintenance of water distribution networks in Djibouti, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Senegal and now in Lusaka, Zambia.
He said LWSC will benefit from the availability of a pool of trained and motivated subcontractors that will have been oriented to share the aspirations of the company in dealing with water losses.
The CDE is an African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), European Union (EU) joint institution created in the framework of Cotonou Agreement. Its objective is to ensure the development of professional ACP enterprise operating in the private sector.
ZANIS
are you sure that the way to go? the best could have been rehabilitating your old net work before you engange into that.
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I agree with rean, why start giving out your ‘own’ resources to international parties. We’ll start having similar issues with the states with these private companies begin dictating the price of our own water
The problem with Zambia`s water systems pipes and all including sewage have not been replaced since Independence in 1964.