Govt warns Water Infrastructure Vandals

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The Government has encouraged members of the public to effect citizen arrests on people found vandalizing water infrastructure in Zambia.

Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation Permanent Secretary Joe Kalusa has expressed displeasure at the escalating levels of vandalism of water infrastructure and installations,  which he said is a  drawback as it has the potential to reverse supply reliability by the Water Utilities Companies.

Mr. Kalusa who is worried by acts of vandalism, says to curb the vice, the government is revising the Water Act to stiffen penalties meted out to vandals.

"We are trying to revise the Water Act to see to stiffen penalties on these people found vandalizing water infrastructure and installations,” Mr. Kalusa protested.

"You have seen our colleagues from ZESCO have stiffer punishment on those who vandalize their infrastructure and I feel that we also from the Ministry [Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation] need to strengthen laws so that we deter would-be offenders.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kalusa has emphasized that the vandalism of water infrastructure results not only in water supply disruption but also in loss of treated water leading to high operational costs. 

The Permanent Secretary has implored Water Utility Companies to raise awareness in their respective areas about the dangers and cost repercussions that are caused by the vandalism of water infrastructure.

Mr. Kalusa has attributed the increase in vandalism on water infrastructure to the people who are dealing with scrap metals.


And National Water Supply and Sanitation Council-NWASCO also has advised water utility companies to ensure that they the reinforce security of their water infrastructure from vandalism. 

Council Communications and Public Relations Manager Mpunga Simukwai says people must be part of any developmental agenda by ensuring that they guard jealous water infrastructure against the vice.

Mrs. Simukwai has noted the need to begin educating and sensitizing the community on the negative impact of vandalism on service provisions to the masses.

"For a country like Zambia, which has subscribed to the Sustainable Development Goals specifically goal number Six and the Vision 2030, issues of vandalism are a serious source of concern," Mrs. Simukwai observed.

She has noted that cases of vandalism are among the challenges hampering the Water utility companies’ efforts to fulfill their mandate of procuring, transmitting, distributing, and supplying reliable water and sanitation in the country.

The NWASCO Communications and Public Relations Manager said instead of service providers focusing on extending their services to other need areas, they begin to channel their resources towards replacing vandalized and damaged water pipes and other infrastructure.

Ms. Simukwai has called on communities to take greater responsibility for protecting the infrastructure that serves them.

Ends.....

 

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