By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
PAY water bills to Nkana Water and Sanitation Company (NWSC) and stop taking advantage of the ministerial directive to have water disconnections suspended, Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe has advised.
Mr Kang’ombe said it had been discovered that some residents were taking advantage of the directive and stopped paying their bills.
He wondered how NWSC would keep operations running and providing proper water and sanitation services if customers were not paying their bills.
The mayor said the city required proper water and sanitation services in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Government has not given money to water utility companies to be used for operations during this outbreak of the coronavirus.
How do people expect the company to raise salaries, pay Zesco and buy chemicals to purify the water?” he wondered.
Mr Kang’ombe said there was need for people to take the responsibility and help the water utility company by paying for water supply and sanitation services.
He said the city required constant flow of fresh and clean water now than ever before in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The mayor explained that the directive to suspend water disconnections was given in good faith, but did not entail that customers should also stop paying bills.
Mr Kang’ombe said it was prudent the customers to cooperate with the company and discuss ways in which they could clear their outstanding bills unlike completely neglecting their obligation to pay.
“Let us not forget that the fight against the corona virus pandemic has to be a collective one. Let us avoid placing the company in a difficult position where it will even start failing to manage its day to day operations because of a few individuals who feel they should stop paying their bills,” he emphasised.
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