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People that have encroached on land reserved for water development will face the full wrath of the law-Minister

By Chief Editor
16
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Government says it attaches great importance to the supply of clean treated water to all the residents in the country and will therefore endeavor to ensure that the water companies enhance their quality surveillance so that the water being supplied meets the quality standards required. Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Dr. Jonas Chanda says this is why Government, in line with the Vision 2030, the Seventh National Development Plan and Sustainable Development Goals which aim to provide universal access to clean and safe water and sanitation services for all by the year 2030, without leaving anyone behind has embarked on major water supply and sanitation projects. Dr. Chanda’s comment comes following the report on the suspected water contamination in Section B of Mtendere Compound in Lusaka. “I wish to update the members of the public and residents of Mtendere Compound as follows: The Ministry, through Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company had dispatched quality surveillance team to thoroughly investigate the source of the suspected contamination in order to institute the necessary corrective measures. It has preliminary been established that the suspected affected area is localized to Section B of Mtendere Compound, consisting of about Twenty-Six households,” he said. “The water supply to the affected area was isolated and the residents are being supplied with treated water using water bowsers. Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company has heightened investigations in order to establish the actual source of the problem and take remedial action. In the meantime, I wish to appeal to the affected residents to exercise patience and cooperate with Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company as they conclude their investigations.” Dr. Chanda assured the rest of the residents of Mtendere Compound and surrounding communities that the treated water being supplied to their areas is consistently checked for quality and remains fit for consumption. “This is why Government, in line with the Vision 2030, the Seventh National Development Plan and Sustainable Development Goals which aim to provide universal access to clean and safe water and sanitation services for all by the year 2030, without leaving anyone behind has embarked on major water supply and sanitation projects as follows: Kafue Bulk Water Supply Project; Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage Project; Lusaka Sanitation Project; Emergency Water Supply Improvement Project to selected Peri – Urban areas in Lusaka; Zambia Water Supply and Sanitation Project under Mulonga Water Supply and Sanitation Company in Mufulira, Chingola and Chililabombwe; Kafubu Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project; Kafulafuta Water Supply System Project; Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Project Phase II; Integrated Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project, covering Western, Luapula, Muchinga and Northern Provinces; and Transforming Rural Livelihoods in Western Zambia Project in Western Province covering all 16 districts,” he added “These projects are supported by Cooperating Partners in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia. I wish to conclude that because of these major efforts that Government is taking, there has been significant improvement in the national coverage of water supply from 65 per cent in 2014 to 72 per cent currently. There has also been significant improvement in the national coverage of sanitation services from 25 per cent in 2014 to 54 per cent at present.” He said with the conclusion of all these major water supply and sanitation projects, his ministry expects that the country will be on its way to achieving universal access to water supply and sanitation by the year 2030.
Government says it attaches great importance to the supply of clean treated water to all the residents in the country and will therefore endeavor to ensure that the water companies enhance their quality surveillance so that the water being supplied meets the quality standards required. Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Dr. Jonas Chanda says this is why Government, in line with the Vision 2030, the Seventh National Development Plan and Sustainable Development Goals which aim to provide universal access to clean and safe water and sanitation services for all by the year 2030, without leaving anyone behind has embarked on major water supply and sanitation projects. Dr. Chanda’s comment comes following the report on the suspected water contamination in Section B of Mtendere Compound in Lusaka. “I wish to update the members of the public and residents of Mtendere Compound as follows: The Ministry, through Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company had dispatched quality surveillance team to thoroughly investigate the source of the suspected contamination in order to institute the necessary corrective measures. It has preliminary been established that the suspected affected area is localized to Section B of Mtendere Compound, consisting of about Twenty-Six households,” he said. “The water supply to the affected area was isolated and the residents are being supplied with treated water using water bowsers. Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company has heightened investigations in order to establish the actual source of the problem and take remedial action. In the meantime, I wish to appeal to the affected residents to exercise patience and cooperate with Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company as they conclude their investigations.” Dr. Chanda assured the rest of the residents of Mtendere Compound and surrounding communities that the treated water being supplied to their areas is consistently checked for quality and remains fit for consumption. “This is why Government, in line with the Vision 2030, the Seventh National Development Plan and Sustainable Development Goals which aim to provide universal access to clean and safe water and sanitation services for all by the year 2030, without leaving anyone behind has embarked on major water supply and sanitation projects as follows: Kafue Bulk Water Supply Project; Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage Project; Lusaka Sanitation Project; Emergency Water Supply Improvement Project to selected Peri – Urban areas in Lusaka; Zambia Water Supply and Sanitation Project under Mulonga Water Supply and Sanitation Company in Mufulira, Chingola and Chililabombwe; Kafubu Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project; Kafulafuta Water Supply System Project; Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Project Phase II; Integrated Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project, covering Western, Luapula, Muchinga and Northern Provinces; and Transforming Rural Livelihoods in Western Zambia Project in Western Province covering all 16 districts,” he added “These projects are supported by Cooperating Partners in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia. I wish to conclude that because of these major efforts that Government is taking, there has been significant improvement in the national coverage of water supply from 65 per cent in 2014 to 72 per cent currently. There has also been significant improvement in the national coverage of sanitation services from 25 per cent in 2014 to 54 per cent at present.” He said with the conclusion of all these major water supply and sanitation projects, his ministry expects that the country will be on its way to achieving universal access to water supply and sanitation by the year 2030.

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The Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Minister Jonas Chanda has warned that people that have encroached on land reserved for water development risk facing the full wrath of the law. The Minister sounded the caution when he visited some areas in Ndola of the Copperbelt Province.

In an area called Minsundu where Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company has one of its water treatment plants, it was discovered that unscrupulous people had built illegal structures. This illegality is despite there being a court order that ruled that all those that had obtained plots around the treatment plant vacate the premises.

“We are a country of laws. As His Excellency President Lungu has stated time without number, we shall not condone lawlessness regardless who are the perpetrators. What kind of nation are we becoming if people can fail to respect a court ruling?” wondered the Bwana Mukubwa Constituency Parliamentarian.

Ndola Town Clerk, Wisdom Bwalya informed the Minister that the City Council was doing everything to ensure that people do not illegally allocate themselves land.

And in the Hillcrest area near Peter Singogo, it was discovered that someone had earmarked the area for construction of a filling station and a shopping mall. However, the area is a recharge zone and a tributary for the Kafue River.

“There is no way we can allow contamination of such an important water body for whatever reason. I am directing Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Water Resources Development, WARMA, ZEMA and Kafubu Water and the Local Authority to see to it that the proposed construction should not take place and measures to that effect be submitted to my office by Friday 21st August,” Dr Chanda said.

“If indeed a title was given for this place, I will work very closely the Minister of Land to ensure that the said title is revoked. There are so many other areas more suitable for that kind of investment,” stated Dr Chanda

With the population growing, the demand for land has been on the rise. However, it important that water development is not endangered.

Chief Editor
Chief Editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

16 COMMENTS

  3. Iwe forest 27 is a water reserve which you have shared among yourselves. Inonge, Matiini are among the people who you supposed to talk to.

    6

  4. This is vital ba minister. I totally agree. Any land encroachment is an abhorrent illegal act. I experienced this when squatters decided to encroach on my land. I tried all legal ways to ask them to leave but they were stubborn. They even claimed that I burned their illegal structures. Why would I risk burning my own land

    2
    6

  5. What do mean by “ risk facing the full wrath of the law”. Is there a chance that they might get away with it?

    6

  6. “….If indeed a title was given for this place, I will work very closely the Minister of Land to ensure that the said title is revoked…..”

    Look at these theives , learning from lungu……they are in the forefront of stealing then blame the victim to dupe people they are against corruption.

    Why don’t you sack and charge your officers who are issuing those illigal titles ?

    Lungu watchers and leads a band of theives ……..

    3

  7. The comedy will escalate. Their stay in office is culminating in a few months of rushed actions. Something will break…

    3

  9. Minister, we have a water challenge past few weeks in PHI, with no word from people involved. Even now there is no water, we are really suffering

    3

  11. Minister, no water in PHI Lusaka for a long period of time now. No word of from those responsible for running water issues in Lusaka, Lusaka water and sanitation company is very mute as if all is well. Please help we are really suffering.

    3

  12. If you allowed PF cadres to allocate land through out Zambia in reserved areas at the beginning. It’s laughable how you are going to let them face the full wrath of the law when you are part of it. Do not lie to Zambians every time you open the mouth.

    3

  14. How about people who have fenced off forest land in Sinda? Should n’t they face the full wrath of the law? So this full wrath is reserved only for those who aren’t children of the president?

    5

  15. Reports from bloggers above say no water in PHI for weeks , yet the morron minister for Lusaka is busy putting up billboards of himself ………..

    That is PF for you. A bunch of hopeless Catalans who excell at stealing and violence ….
    .

    2

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