Water-Aid Zambia Executive Director Pamela Chisanga insists that there is need for the country to deal with water contamination in Lusaka and other parts of the country.
Ms Chisanga is aware that Lusaka water is usually contaminated due to unplannedbuilding of sceptic tanks and the use of pit latrines.
In addition to that, she is aware that some Zambian communities are still drinking water from unsafe sources such as shallow wells.
“We need to look at those areas that are getting water from sources such as wells boreholes and so on, particularly in places where we often experience outbreaks of cholera in places like Kanyama and Chipata compounds because people are using shallow wells. We do not want a situation where we are forced to bury shallow wells because there is a crisis, when we have an outbreak. We have to look for alternative drinking sources now rather than wait until the rainy season when we have problems. I think that the transition to safe drinking sources needs to happen now. We need to go to these communities to look at where they are getting water now and ensure that if they are getting water from wells and soorth, we move them to other safer sources,” she said.
Ms Chisanga explained that there is need to make the provisional safer sources now rather than wait for the cholera to break out.
“The experience we had last year and early this year, we were unable to take clean drinking water because some places are inaccessible during the rainy season, so we need to do that before the rains start,” she stated.
Ms. Chisanga, however, said her organization longs to see all citizens in every corner of the country, having access to safe and clean water as well as good sanitation.
Ms. Chisanga advised that there is need to ensure that drainage systems in the country are worked on before the rainy season starts.
“Before the rainy season, the issue of garbage is going to be a critical one for us to address. We need to ensure that we havecollected garbage, our drainages are not blocked or clogged and are clear of debris and ensure that rain water is going away freely without accumulating or bonding,” Ms. Chisanga said.