FOUR people have been arrested over the theft of 500 bricks meant for the construction of waterborne toilets in Kwacha Township by Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company (NWSC),” NWSC Public Relations Officer Agness Simwinga has said
Ms Simwinga said the bricks were procured under the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and were meant for the construction of waterborne toilets by the water utility company in Kwacha Township to improve sanitation.
Ms Simwinga said the water utility company was saddened at the recent reports of theft of material for the same project as well as rampant thefts and vandalism of water installations in various parts of the city and areas where the utility company was providing services.
“It is not only saddening but also retrogressive that well-meant projects are being vandalised or having the material stolen. So as I’m talking, four people have been arrested over theft of 500 bricks belonging to NWSC.
“The bricks were procured under DMMU and are meant to help in the construction of waterborne toilets in Kwacha.” Recently there have been reports of materials being stolen and sold to residents in the area. We thank our customers for their vigilance,” Ms Simwinga said.
Ms Simwinga said the huge investment which the water utility company has been putting in its infrastructure and operations has not been yielding desirable results because of rampant thefts and vandalism.
She said the water utility company with support from the government has been putting investment in its infrastructure and operations in order to improve service delivery, but the rampant thefts and vandalism have continued to adversely affect its service delivery.
She said the water utility company was facing a number of challenges which included vandalism and theft of water installations, non-payment of water bills and the construction of structures on top of sewer and water lines which was making it difficult to carry out major rehabilitation works like the case was in Bulangililo and Kwacha.
“We are however grateful to the government for its support to start various projects which included the Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Phase two project which aimed at improving water supply in various parts of Kitwe. I must say we are grateful that the government has always been supportive by sourcing funds aimed at improving water supply and sanitation in Kitwe.
‘However, cases of vandalism and theft of water installations has been serious challenges on our efforts to improve water supply. As a company, we are disappointed that when we put investment to improve service delivery, it does not pay back because of thefts and vandalism. Vandalism and thefts have been retrogressive because you end up replacing the same stolen and vandalised infrastructure instead of progressing,” she said.
