BY ROGERS KALERO
RAMPANT theft and vandalism of steel manhole covers , prepaid meters and other water installations has rocked Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company (KWSC) in Ndola and Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company (NWSSC) in Kitwe resulting into losses of millions of Kwacha poor service delivery.
In Ndola, KWSC has lost close to 60 steel covers in Kansenshi, Hillcrest, Northridge, Itawa residential areas and some parts of the industrial area, where such thefts have become common because of the market created by scrap metal dealers.
KWSC Manager Marketing and Public Relations, Misheck Moyo, said the water utility company has noted with concern the increase in theft of steel covers from its strategic points in some parts of Ndola city, residential and industrial areas.
And NWSSC Public Relations Officer, Agness Simwinga, also bemoaned the rampant theft of manhole covers, prepaid meters and other water installations vital in water supply and sanitation services .
Mr Moyo said stolen covers were too expensive to replace as one steel cover was fetching between K1500 and K1700 on the market.
“These thefts and vandalism of water installations are not only expensive on the part of the water utility company when it comes to replace the stolen installations, but they also affect service delivery of the company.
“In the past two months alone, KWSC has lost close to 60 steel covers in Kansenshi, Hillcrest, Northridge, Itawa and some parts of the industrial area,” Mr Moyo said.
Mr Moyo urged the residents in the mentioned areas to help the utility company by reporting any suspicious persons who might be involved in such illicit activities.
Mr Moyo said according to preliminary findings, the vandals in this well organised criminal acts were believed to be selling the stolen steel covers to unscrupulous scrap metal dealers.
“The vandalism of these covers poses a great danger to members of the public. Residents risk falling into sewer spaces particularly children, as such points are uncovered.
“Further, we have seen more foreign particles and objects being deposited in these open spaces and this has contributed to increased reports of blocked sewer lines in the affected residential areas. Worse still, we have also witnessed unnecessary spillage of effluents that are posing a danger to life.,” he said.
He said KWSC will soon engage stakeholders such as the police, scarp metal dealers and residents so that we raise awareness on the dangers of vandalising steel covers.
And NWSSC Public Relations Officer Agness Simwinga also bemoaned the rampant theft of manhole covers, prepaid meters and other water installations vital in water supply and sanitation services.
She said rampant theft of manhole covers in Kitwe Cental Business District (CBD) and surrounding areas has forced the Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company (NWSSC) to replace metal manhole covers with concrete covers
In separate interviews in Kitwe at the weekend , Ms Simwinga said scrap metal dealing had contributed to the increasing demand for metal manhole covers.
“We have a situation whereby, every time you wake up, you receive a report of theft or vandalism of manhole covers. The most unfortunate thing is that instead of the community helping us to arrest the people involved in this vice, the community are blaming us.
“As a public service company, people always blame us for anything. So to deal with theft of manhole covers, we are replacing them with concrete covers although concrete covers are also vandalised by vehicles and heavy trucks,” Ms Simwinga said.
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