ZAMBIA yesterday signed the single largest grant in the water, sanitation and drainage sector with the American government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) worth US$355 million (K1.8 trillion).
Finance and National Planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda signed the grant which is equivalent to K1.8 trillion on behalf of the Zambian Government while MCC chief executive officer Daniel Yohannes signed on behalf of the US government in Lusaka yesterday.
The five year $355 million compact deal aims at addressing one of Zambia’s most binding constraints to economic growth through infrastructure investment in Lusaka.
The compact would invest in water supply, sanitation and drainage infrastructure to reduce the prevalence of water related diseases.
The signing ceremony that took place at the Civic Centre, was witnessed by Vice-President Guy Scott who said Lusaka was built on a water shed which caused flooding easily.
Dr Scott said the grant would greatly assist in reducing incidents of flooding through improved drainage systems.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Chikwanda said the deal was a landmark for the city of Lusaka in its quest to provide water and sanitation for the residents of the nation’s capital whose population had grown from 134,000 at independence to over two million now.
He said the water, sanitation and drainage infrastructure had been out-stripped by the vast population growth mainly attributed to influx of people from all over Zambia in search of opportunities.
“This fight is not only to secure the MCC or other external support but because our own history and experience has taught us that good governance is key to the country’s sustainable development,” he said.
Mr Yohannes said MCC believed that its investments would only be sustainable if they were driven by partner countries themselves.
“So, true to the MCC principle of country-owned development, this compact is by and for the people of Zambia, both men and women,” he said.
He said in addition to the country owned development, the Zambia-MCC partnership practiced other principles key to development effectiveness which included making tough policy reforms for sustainability and embracing mutual accountability to deliver tangible results.
He said the MCC appreciated how strongly the PF Government was committed to the success of the compact deal.
US ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella said besides the water project, the US government stood by the Zambian people to support credible elections.
Mr Storella said Zambia demonstrated through its peaceful transition that even a small country could be a leader on the world stage.
In good governance, Mr Storella said his government was cooperating to strengthen institutions to fight corruption.
[Times of Zambia]
80% in their pockets: Pockets full (PF)
Time to looooot the treasury begins when?
Thats great if the resource will be channeled in that direction but knowing Zambia,it will be channeled elsewhere no wonder I support Barotse
I hope there will be no more incidents of Cholera and stuff!! 300 million dollars is a lot of money to be able to change the face of Lusaka forever. Emphasis should be on such areas as Kanyama, Chibolia, Kalingalinga, Misisi, Mandevu, Kalikiliki, etc. Please engage reputable and competent companies to design and build a sophisticated drainage system worthy a maturing nation and growing economy! We all appreciate the need to give local Zambian companies contracts, but we have to be careful. Let us learn from past mistakes by avoiding briefcase “Tuntemba” with tall tales of construction capacities they can never back up.
This is now Sata and PF’s baby. I hope they learned some lessons from MMD’s fall from grace. PF & Sata can no longer pass the ball. It is now in their court!!
Has Kapoko been jailed?
Biggest problem we have is theft and corruption. All that $355m could disappear into people’s pockets. May be the Americans themselves should camp in Zambia and carry out the project.
It’s a shame we steal from ourselves.
Lubinda we nid proper piped water in jack. Pliz come to our aid
But why only Lusaka? there many more places with water & sanitation problems, please Mr Chikwanda look beyond your Lusaka.
Please ba US send your own people to manage this project and dont let any zambian near the bank account.
The idea sounds good, but I also smell a rat. These guys who used to invoice for supplying `air` could just be creating opportunities for their hungry pockets. Time has started moving. It is the early bird that catches the worm saying being applied in a wrong way. Bu pompwe!!!! What about other towns like Kabwe which is now ravaged by typhoid because of lack of clean piped water? We are watching. I 5 years time we want a report on how the money was used. Not Kanyama disaster funds year in year out. Phew!!!!! These politicians.
Hope this is not a CASH GRANT..
Lets hope the cash will be used for its intended purpose
Thanks to the US government!!!:d
Please please, may these funds be used to its intended purpose. Hoping this marks the end of poor sanitation being witnessed in our most cities especially those in our GREAT CITY Lusaka.
The government should attach intelligence officers (shushushu) to the project to ensure that no one steals even a single bag of cement. Do not just wait for the auditors report which comes out after the damage is done.
oh well, what can we say but that Zambia needs a facelift, too much poor environmental conditions, cholera should be a thing of the past, it is a shame to the Nation, too dirty Lusaka and Kabwe, oh even Chingola the one time dubbed ‘the cleanest town in Zambia.
I agree with No.7. This money going by the previous MMD government’s ability to mismanage and redirect funds into underground tombs, the US needs to send their own people to manage this. On my visit to Zambia last year, a friend of mine took me to Nakonde to collect his vehicle from japan. The entire road rehabilitation from Nakonde up to Serenje that was given to MMD cadres and friends, is basically the Hell run itself. But get to Serenje going up to Kapiri Mposhi, a road done by the donors themselves, it was like I was back in the USA. Smooth all the way to the Kapiri junction. I hope the USA will do the same because, it has become very difficult to trust Zambians even with the PF in government because some of the tricksters are still there in government.
Excuse me, I didn’t ask for the flag to be changed because I am a Zambian based in the USA. Can you please revert back to the Union Jack.
The last time I read the papers, Mongu had no water and the sewer system collapsed. Mansa had water blues and mpulungu had no water. Magoye had no water, and right now police men are using pit latrines in Mindolo. How can the US government be convinced to spend 355mil us dollars on Lusaka city alone? Since 1964 how much money has Lusaka city received at the expense of other towns in this country. Why are we so naive? That money could have sorted out three key provincial centres namely Mongu, Mansa and Chipata, or Mbala. We are not serious as a country. Far from it.