Eastern Water Company owed overe K9 m by clients in Chipata alone
Eastern Water and Sanitation Company Limited(EWSC) is owed more than K9 million by its clients in Chipata district alone.
Acting Chipata District Commissioner Kapembwa Sikazwe says the water utility company is owed K9 ,292,500 in water bills by its clients as of August 31,2021.
“It is unfortunate to note that some people still want to be forced to pay bills,this is quite unacceptable.I am also aware that some people have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic by completely abandoning their responsibility to pay their water bills,”he said.
Speaking in a speech read on his behalf by Chipata City Council Town Clerk Wisdom Bwalya today during the opening of the Stakeholders Consultative Meeting organised by Eastern Water and Sanitation Company Limited held at Crystal Springs Hotel in Chipata,Mr Sikazwe said as the people have the right to criticize the water utility company where it fails to meet it’s mandate,they should also realise that they have an important role to play in helping the company to achieve it.
“Eastern Water and Sanitation Company Limited has this enormous mandate to provide the water supply and sanitation services to the entire Eastern Province and Chama district of Muchinga Province,”he said.
Mr Sikazwe said that EWSC plans to connect at least 2,000 customers to it’s water supply system before the close of 2021.
“Such efforts are a clear demonstration of the company’s commitment to national aspirations of improved access to water supply and sanitation services for all,”he said.
EWSC managing director Aaron Mulinda said his company is projecting to improve about 70 percent of sanitation and 100 percent water supply in Eastern Province at the total cost of $300 million.
Engineer Mulinda complained about rising cases of encroachment on EWSC property by some people in Chipata and Eastern Province as a whole.
He said the EWSC management is engaging the Ministry of Lands to survey it’s property so that it may be put on title.
Earlier,Chipata City Council Mayor George Mwanza said his office will work with EWSC to ensure that there is an improvement of the water supply.
Mr Mwanza said the improvement of the sanitation and water supply in Chipata will effectively help people in their daily lives.
