By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged continued support to Zambia’s programme of infrastructure development particularly in the area of water and sanitation.
AfDB resident representative Freddie Kwesiga said the bank remained committed to assisting the country in financing infrastructure development, especially for water and sanitation because these affect the general citizenry.
Dr Kwesiga said this in Kitwe yesterday when he inspected the Nkana Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC)’s $63 million AfDB-funded water and sanitation improvement project for Kitwe, Kalulushi and Chambishi Towns.
The project commenced in 2008 and is scheduled to be completed month-end of September this year.
Dr Kwesiga who was accompanied by his senior procurement officer Natan Jere, was thrilled with the progress made on the project implementation by NWSC.
The AfDB country representative said the bank would continue working with the Government in programmes for infrastructure development especially in the water sector because it realised that this was the way to go in planning for the country’s population high growth rate.
He said Zambia’s growth rate was high and that this called for the need to continue investing in water infrastructure development in the country.
“The world’s population will fast increase and Zambia will not be behind and this is why we need to start planning for water and sanitation infrastructure expansion,” he said.
Dr Kwesiga said AfDB and the Zambian government enjoyed good relations and that as partners, the bank would always be ready to assist when approached for financing of infrastructure development projects that are inclusive such as water.
He said the bank attached great importance to water and sanitation because the sector bordered on inclusiveness.
NWSC managing director Diana Makwaba thanked AfDB for having provided funding through Government for the project of water and sanitation improvement in Kitwe, Kalulushi and Chambishi.
Ms Makwaba said the old and dilapidated water infrastructure network had adversely affected the utility’s ability to provide good service delivery to the people.
“This project is going to help us rehabilitate and improve infrastructure and service delivery to the people,” Ms Makwaba said.
