By ROGERS KALERO
GOVERNMENT Institutions must start paying water bills to enable the water utility companies provide quality services to their various customers within their areas of operations,’’ Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company (KWSC) Acting Managing Director Joe Mbewe has said
Mr Mbewe said KWSC which, operates in Ndola, Luanshya and Masaiti was owed more than K91 million in unpaid water bills by various Government institutions on the Copperbelt, a situation which was adversely affecting the service delivery by the water utility company Mr Mbewe was speaking in Ndola during a stakeholder’s consultative meeting which was attended by provincial and district heads of government departments drawn from Ndola Luanshya and Masaiti and also discussed salient issues among them, the outstanding debt owed to the utility by state institutions. Mr. Mbewe said more than 270 government institutions were in arrears on their water bills, representing a figure of 0.3 percent of the total customer base of KWSC with government customers accounting for 30 percent of the company’s total revenue per month.
“As a water utility company, KWSC is owed more than K91 million in unpaid water bills. government customers account for 30 percent of the company’s total revenue per month. I’m optimistic that after today’s engagement, Government institutions will start paying their obligations,’’ Mr Mbewe said
Mr Mbewe said he was grateful to the government for the support it has continued rendering to the institution in terms of capital investments and payment of water bills to the company
And Ndola District Commissioner Joseph Phiri has encouraged Government departments to offset their outstanding water bills owed to KWSC so that it can operate effectively and continue to provide service delivery
And Luanshya District Commissioner Oncemore Ngonomo was concerned at the rampant increase in vandalism and theft of KWSC infrastructure and water installations, which he described as retrogressive.
