WATER Aid Zambia has embarked on a K7 million project in Lusaka’s Kanyama Township to improve water and sanitation in the area.
Water Aid Zambia acting Country Director Bweembya Chanda said Kanyama was being targeted because it was one of the few townships in Zambia with a contaminated water base.
Mr. Chanda said only about 50 000 households had access to clean and safe drinking water out of over 150 000 households in Kanyama.
“Over 54% of people in Kanyama use shallow wells to get water while over 80% of the population use pit latrines as their toilets,” Mr Chanda said.
He said high population as well as poor water and sanitation were among the reasons making Kanyama a hub for water related diseases.
Mr. Chanda said this during the official launch of Clean Cities for Growth and Development project in Lusaka.
He added that the Clean Cities for Growth and Development Project was in line with Sustainable Development goal number 11 which talks about access to good water and sanitation.
Also present at the launch was Kanyama Member of Parliament Elizabeth Phiri who noted that Kanyama was lagging behind in many areas of development.
Ms. Phiri said the poor state of water in the township was as a result of many industries and markets in the area.
“Almost all the industries in Lusaka are in Kanyama constituency and that is one of the reasons why our water in Kanyama is not among the cleanest in Lusaka,” she said.
The Kanyama Member of Parliament also called on the residents of Kanyama to feel part of the project.
She called on other well-wishers to come forward and support many sanitation projects that is ongoing in Kanyama Township.
Meanwhile, Water Aid Head of Programmes Mubiana Muyangwa said the project will run for 2 years in Kanyama, with an initial target of between 50 and 80 000 households.