Tue, 04 Jul 2017 10:01:01 +0000
By VIOLET TEMBO
ZAMBIA National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) in partnership with World Vision – Zambia has handed over a mechanized water borehole to Muwaya primary School located in Masaiti District at a cost of K150,000.
The facility is expected to cater for a population of one thousand five hundred population that lives in the surrounding of the school.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Bank Chief Commercial Office Lishala Situmbeko said such partnership that the bank had gone into was aimed at supporting government in its endeavor to provide access to clean water and good sanitation.
Mr.Sitwala said in the 50 years that the bank has been in existence, mile stones had been achieved but it was of the view that the community in which it operates should benefit through its cooperate social responsibility.
He emphasized that clean water and sanitation was extremely critical to the attainment of a health community.
“We are a commercial entity but we do not forget our role in our society. It is for this reason that we partnered with World Vision Zambia to give bank to the communities we operate from.
Yes, we deal with money and we have achieved a whole lot in the past years that we have been in existence from being the first bank to introduce automated machines (ATMs), mobile banking to benefit Zambian communities.
But it came to our mind that even in the banks we operate from water was an essential commodity we could not deal without on daily basis, “he said.
Meanwhile Mr.Sitwala has urged small medium enterprises (SMEs) to partner with the bank and make income from various services which in turn will trickle back to the communities through contributions for sustainable growth.
He disclosed that the bank had netted 500 express agents country wide making points of banking accessible.
Speaking earlier world Vision Zambia Deputy National Director Chikondi Phiri said the Non Government organization (NGO) had partnered with various stakeholders and donors resulting in drilling of 1,500 boreholes and 800 rehabilitated country wide.
Mr.Phiri said the worth investment in water by the NGO in the country was standing at K5 Billion in the year 2017.
He said the target was to reach a population of 3,000 people in various communities to enable them have access to clean water and attain good sanitation.
“ZANACOs’ joining hands with NGOs’is an effort to develop inclusive and equitable development to the people of Zambia and help government attain goals outlines in the 7th National Development Plan (SNDP).
If the country is to attain the goals outlined, there is need for concerted efforts and unwavering commitment of all stakeholders.
What we are witnessing is much in line with the attainment of sustainable development goals number six which is about access to clean water for all and water is the foundation of life,” he said.
Mr.Phiri urged private sector to emulate ZANACO and improve living standards of the communities within their area of operation.
Receiving the hand over, representative of senior Chief Chiwala, Lillian Chimbini thanked ZANACO for the gesture, adding that the development will enable children concentrate on school.
Ms.Chimbini said children were forced to carry water containers to school on daily basis because since establishment the school has had no water.
However she bemoaned that local companies in the area did nothing to uplift the standards of the area.
She also appealed to government to consider constructing roads in the area.
