KASAMA – Today the United States government handed over a solar-powered water system that will provide clean water to over 2,300 people in Bwembya village of Kasama District, Northern Province. The water system includes three boreholes, a 54,000-litre tank, a piped network, and six water kiosks. It will be maintained and managed by Chambeshi Water Supply and Sanitation Company.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Linnisa Wahid said, “Safe, clean drinking water along with effective sanitation facilities and proper hygiene practices are among the most important things a parent or a community can provide for the health and well-being of children. The U.S. government partners with government, communities, and the private sector to help Zambians implement locally-led solutions to their development priorities such as reducing undernutrition and stunting.”
Receiving the water system on behalf of the Zambian government, Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Honorable Collins Nzovu underscored the value of working in partnership to improve access to water for communities, especially given the drought the country is experiencing. The Minister noted, “This latest gesture by the U.S. government is yet another testament to the strong and growing bilateral ties between our two nations.”
The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Scaling Up Nutrition Technical Assistance Project, has delivered 1,000 boreholes across 13 districts in Central, Copperbelt, Northern, and Luapula provinces over the last five years, serving over 400,000 people with clean and safe water. Last month the U.S. government through USAID announced that it is providing $66.8 million (K2.6 billion) to Zambia to address the current drought, strengthen food security, and build economic and climate resilience in the country.
