The Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) has praised the progress of its community engagement efforts in Lufwanyama District, Copperbelt Province.
The organisation cited notable strides in water and sanitation initiatives and expressed optimism about moving into the second phase of its development project.
During a stakeholder engagement in Lufwanyama, CEJ Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Haggai Nyambe reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting local development through collaboration with stakeholders and partner organisations.
“We are pleased to be back and hopeful that we will proceed with the next phase of this project,” Nyambe stated.
“Our discussions with the Carter Centre Foundation are ongoing, particularly around improving service delivery in water and sanitation.”
Nyambe highlighted the importance of monitoring and evaluation in ensuring that project goals are met and that interventions reach their intended beneficiaries.
He said this in Lufwanyama District during the final meeting under the current phase of the basement project, expressing optimism about future activities.
“We are delighted to see these engagements growing stronger.
The community and various stakeholders have been actively involved, and the reports show that we are making meaningful progress,” he noted.
Nyambe also extended gratitude to the local government and traditional leadership for their consistent support.
“We are thankful to Chief Lumpuma, who has always sent representatives to attend these meetings, and to the community members who have been instrumental in implementing this project,” he added.
He said CEJ looks forward to building on the momentum and continuing its work with partners and the community to achieve sustainable development outcomes in the district.
Earlier, Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) Programmes Manager for Youth and Children Dalitso Mvula praised the progress of its community engagement efforts in Lufwanyama District.
She cited notable strides in water and sanitation initiatives and expressed optimism about moving into the second phase of its development project.
Mvula called for stronger collaboration and resource-sharing among stakeholders to address persistent challenges, particularly those affecting local authorities and service delivery structures.
“These challenges are not just localised—they also affect implementation, even with government backing,” Mvula stated.
“So the question is: what solutions can we develop using our own resources, working together as a team?”
She emphasised that the purpose of the partnership meeting was to foster collective ownership of the action plan and ensure that all stakeholders, including community members, are actively involved in its execution.
“This is not just about CEJ,” she said.
“It’s about supporting one another as we create and implement this action plan.
We must all operate with a clear, community-informed strategy.”
Mvula referenced commitments made during last year’s Indaba and the gender dialogue sessions.
She noted that many of the challenges identified then remain relevant today.
Mvula praised the involvement of local government representatives, who have played a key role in supporting the project’s implementation.
“These challenges have been present throughout the process,” she added.
“But with continued collaboration, we can move forward together.”
