Rural water, sanitation project to benefit over 1.3m people in Western Province
By Staff Reporter
Sanitation and hygiene expert, Tumba Mupango says people of Western Province will greatly benefit from the US$38.22 million project meant to transform rural livelihoods.
Mupango said that 754,000 and 573,000 people across the 16 districts in the province would have access to water supply and adequate sanitation, respectively.
Speaking in Kalabo during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting with area chiefs from Kalabo and Sikongo districts, Mupango said 52 percent of the beneficiaries were women.
“A total cost of US$18.68 million was being spent on Water Supply Infrastructure Development.,” she said.
Speaking during the same meeting, Community Development expert Mwangala Chiwala called for gender equality in the implementation of water and sanitation programmes.
Chiwala however observed that poor water and sanitation facilities mostly affect women and children.
She appealed to traditional leaders to use their authority and serve as agents of change for improved water and sanitation in rural communities.
And speaking on behalf of fellow traditional leaders, Chief Chumbula of Lulang’unyi sub-chiefdom in Sikongo district said all the chiefs were ready to champion the provision of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
