By Chinoyi Chipulu
Chingola mayor Johnson Kang’ombe has revealed that he has engaged Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) over suspected contaminated blue water supply in the district.
And Residents of Chingola’s Chiwempala area stormed Chawama mini-hospital after word went round that Kang’ombe would visit the clinic on a fact finding mission.
The residents who went with containers of visibly blue water complained of vomiting, abdominal pains and diarrhea.
Kang’ombe appealed to the residents to exercise patience as the company was working to rectify the situation.
He said for now, the company would temporarily shut the water supply.
And Kang’ombe said in an interview that he had engaged the water utility which revealed that it had taken water samples to Nkana Water and Sanitation Company to find out what had polluted the water.
He said the company would supply water to affected areas using water bowsers.
“We had a stakeholders meeting with MWSC and they said they had taken water samples to Nkana Water because they don’t have a lab to establish what has caused the water to be blue. I think that’s when we can now be able to comment properly,” he said.
Kang’ombe said he spoke with the victims at the health facility who were put on observation, but no one had been admitted.
“Yes, I saw the water was blue and I washed my hands with the same water to feel if it was itching because some people were saying it was itchy,” he said. “So I cannot say we have any serious matter relating to water because we can only make a statement when we establish the result which will come from the laboratory.”
The civic leader expressed disappointment over the behavior of some residents who thought the mayor had gone to compensate the affected residents.
“You know Chingola is notorious, people take advantage of the situation, napalya pene bachamba ukubula utubotolo ati bambe ukwakana, ba amba nokulembesha (some residents started sharing water in bottles and some started registering at the out patient department) thinking we will give them money,” he said.
And MWSC communications manager Bright Mtonga said the matter was being investigated and the company would give a position soon.
