THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) is facing challenges in maintaining the drainage system in the city of Lusaka. THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) is facing challenges in maintaining the drainage system in the City of Lusaka.
LCC Public Relations Manager Mulunda Habenzu confirmed this to the Lusaka Star in an interview that maintaining drainages in Lusaka is even more challenging when it came to the underground drainage system.
“The council is facing challenges in maintaining drainage systems around the city. The situation is worse with underground drainage systems and specifically around Kulima Tower and Millenium bus stations, which need constant cleaning and unblocking,” he said.
Mr. Habenzu added that street vending also contributed to drainage systems being blocked as most of them were in the habit of throwing litter anyhow including in the open drainage systems.
He was however quick to mention that LCC had put up measures in place aimed at improving and maintaining the drainage systems in the city.
“We have some measures in place that will help deal with the problem of flooding. We hope to engage bus stations management and the street vending association with the responsibility of sensitizing vendors on proper public hygiene and propriety,” Mr. Habenzu added.
The Public Relations Manager further explained it is not an easy task as bad habits of littering ahave taken root and many people are ignorant of the gravity of littering.
"These are the same people that complain and accuse the council of not doing their job.”
Mr. Habenzu has since revealed that the government through LCC in conjunction with the government of the United States of America (USA) had embarked on a project called the Millennium Challenge which would commence in January 2014.
The project was aimed at improving the drainage system in Lusaka and the main target was Soweto Market and Kulima Tower bus station and surrounding areas.
“In addition, government granted LCC K100 million to help improve the drainage system along Chandwe Musonda Road and Lumumba Bus Station which have been posing the biggest challenge to the Council due to the increasing number of vendors,” He added.
Mr. Habenzu called on the general public to be responsible and assist the council by refraining from littering anyhow as this would eventually lead to blocking of drainages.