People should understand importance of water, says PS

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 11:13:32 +0000

By JACKSON MAPAPAYI

 MINISTRY of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Permanent Secretary, Bishop Edward Chomba says there is need for people to understand the importance of water, a natural resource which has potential to boost national economy.

Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony for the Kimilombe Dam in Kalumbila district, Bishop Chomba said there has never been anything more important than water, hence the need to guard it jealously.

He said Government has adopted the more integrated approach towards development which was aimed at accelerating the attainment of the vision 2030.

The permanent secretary stated that there was need for every Zambian to have access to safe and clean drinking water by 2030, adding that there was also need for the people of Zambia to support government’s 7th National Development Plan launched recently by President Lungu.

“And my ministry will ensure that a lot of water infrastructure is constructed by 2030 across the country and efforts by partners such as Lumwana mining company will indeed accelerate these developmental efforts,” Bishop Chomba said.

He said economic diversification and job creation, poverty and vulnerability reduction, reducing developmental inequalities, enhancing human development and creation of a conducive governance environment for a diversified and inclusive economy were the five strategic areas of focus in the next five years.

The 250,000 m3 capacity dam would be constructed at a total cost of K5.5 million and would support local activities such as irrigation and fish farming among others.

Earlier, Lumwana mining company general manager Samuel Ash said the company believed that the construction of the dam would greatly enhance the community’s ability to venture into different types of activities’ that would improve their living standards.