By RACKSON SHAMUTUKU –

MULONGA Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) in Chingola has embarked on a project to repair 500 lavatories in Kamba Section, in Nchanga North, to improve the living standards of the residents.
The adopted theme for the project launched last Saturday is ‘Sanitation is health, community responsibility is dignity’.
Through the project, the company will not only help rehabilitate the lavatories, but will seek to inculcate a sense of responsibility in communities to help safeguard the infrastructure.
The residents of Kamba Section are delighted to be associated with the project aimed at improving their livelihood.
MWSC managing director Kanyembo Ndhlovu said the project was part of the bigger scope under the Copperbelt water operators’ partnership.
Mr Ndhlovu, in a speech read for him by MWSC director of finance Boniface Mwamelo, said other works were already underway, including the replacement of meters, distribution lines and repair of valves.
“Our mission is to provide sustainable water and sanitation services that ensure customer delight and maximise shareholder value through a motivated workforce,” Mr Ndhlovu said.
He said according to the World Toilet Organisation, at least 100 children die every day from diarrhoeal diseases due to poor sanitation worldwide.
Mr Ndhlovu said such deaths could be prevented if communities and service providers like MWSC worked together for mutual benefit.
Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo said it was pleasing to see companies and communities taking the initiative to partner in developmental issues.
Mr Tembo said, during the launch of the project, that lavatories occupied an important space in people’s lives and should, therefore, be looked after properly.
He lauded the project as it was responding to the Millennium Development Goal on sanitation.
Mr Tembo urged the residents to stop vandalism of infrastructure and the illegal connection of water and sewerage services as that was a drawback to the development efforts in the district.
He said vandalism and illegal connections impact negatively on Mulonga’s operations.
MWSC is carrying out the project in partnership with the community. Both parties contribute finances towards the project which will gobble up K996, 333.
Part of the funding will be provided by the Zambia Water and Sanitation Project.