Works on Millennium Challenge projects impresses Chikwanda

By Ann Zulu

FINANCE Minister Alexander Chikwanda on Wednesday toured the Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage (LWSSD) project sites to appreciate the progress that has been made since the project was launched.

Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda 

The LWSSD project is a US$355 million grant being implemented by Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Zambia which was established under the laws of Zambia and designated Government as the accountable entity.

The project is being funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an agency of the United States government.

Mr. Chikwanda visited sites of the Bombay drain that were currently under construction by Cooperative Muratori and Cementist (CMC di Ravenna of Italy, the contractor working on contract package (CP) seven and eight of the LWSSD project.

The first site the minister inspected was the Evelyn Hone College section before proceeding to the second site located in Garden compound.

Mr. Chikwanda said he was impressed that works on the Bombay drainage had started taking shape with concrete having been already laid in some sections.

He then proceeded to the third site in Kaunda Square where Mota Engil Engenharia Africa had also begun the US$9.9 million works to upgrade and expand the Kaunda square pond.

The works on this contract involved the rehabilitation and expansion of the Kaunda Square Waste Stabilisation ponds located in the eastern part of Lusaka.

The minister noted that once the project was completed, Lusaka residents would have improved reliability of water supply and sanitation including improved drainage.

“This investment will improve the lives of people in Lusaka; people have been walking long distances in search of water, but once this project is completed, they will spend their time on more productive ventures that will economically empower them, as the water will have been brought closer to their homes,” Mr. Chikwanda said.

And MCA Chief Executive Officer Pamela Bwalya said the projects were also aimed at reducing poverty and promoting economic growth.

She noted that more than 1.2 million people in Lusaka were expected to directly benefit from the investment.