By Chinoyi Chipulu
Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Collins Nzovu says the government will construct 28 new dams and rehabilitate 770 of them in a bid to facilitate ground water which has started drying up in drought prone areas.
Giving a ministerial statement on the status of ground water resources yesterday, Nzovu said the government planned to support water harvesting through dam construction and rehabilitations.
Nzovu said incomplete dams which were stalled due to lack of funding were being revived and that contractors would be re-engaged to bring these projects to completion.
“Ground water plays a key role in supporting social economic development in Zambia and sustains livelihoods through provision of water for various uses such as agriculture, hydropower, mining and domestic water supply for both humans and animals,” he said.
Nzovu said some provinces were threatened with depletion of ground water hence the government was putting in place several interventions to mitigate effects of droughts and build resilience.
“In the immediate and short term as part of the response plan, government has commenced routine maintenance of 770 dams, major rehabilitation of 40 dams, construction of 28 new dams, rehabilitation and equipping of solar pumps of a total of 1,500 of boreholes for domestic and household use,” he said.
The minister said in order to safeguard livestock and wildlife, the government has embarked on the construction of 225 drinking holes which would help in reducing human, wildlife conflict.
Nzovu said government will construct 250 waterborne toilet markets, schools and bus stations in cholera prone areas.
“This is in order to mitigate waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery. In addition, several water projects that had stalled due to budget constraints will be allocated funds and completed before December, 2024,” he said.
He urged contractors to complete the projects on time failure to which their contracts would be terminated.
