26/09/2025
GOVERNMENT URGED TO INCREASE BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TOWARDS WASH
The Zambia NGO WASH Forum has urged Government to significantly increase the national budget allocation for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, citing a critical need to address aging infrastructure, public health threats, and the impacts of climate change.
The appeal was made by Forum Coordinator Bubala Muyovwe-Mumba during a learning event held in Kafue District, part of the Water Voices United project.
Ms. Mumba highlighted the severe strain on Zambia's water utilities, noting that much of the existing infrastructure dates back to the 1950s and 60s and is ill-equipped to serve today’s urban populations.
"Frequent outbreaks of cholera and typhoid are a clear indication of underinvestment in this sector," she stated, adding that less than half the population in peri-urban areas has access to basic sanitation.
She also pointed to the financial and environmental pressures facing the sector.
Ms. Mumba said commercial water utilities are grappling with outdated tariff structures that have not been revised since 2020, even as operational costs—including soaring energy and chemical input expenses—have increased dramatically.
She said the financial shortfall prevents essential maintenance and expansion of services.
Ms. Mumba observed that, climate change, with its erratic rainfall and diminishing water sources, poses a significant threat to national water security.
She urged policymakers to align with international commitments, noting that while Zambia is a signatory to the SADC and eThekwini declarations, which recommend a minimum of 5% of the national budget be allocated to WASH, recent budgets have consistently fallen below 2%.
"We are framing this as an investment in public health, economic growth, and human dignity," she said.
The event in Kafue included a tour of the Iolanda Water Treatment Plants, with members of the Parliamentary Caucus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PC-WASH) and the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism in attendance.
This engagement is one of many facilitated by the Water Voices United project, a four-year initiative co-funded by the European Union and Danish People's Aid and spearheaded by SNV in partnership with the NGO WASH Forum.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Caucus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PC-WASH) Acting Chairperson Binwell Mpundu said water is a thorny issue in many parts of the country.
Earlier, Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) Managing Director Engineer Jilly Chiyombwe explained the financial challenges that directly compromise service delivery.
He noted that despite rising operational costs—driven by high electricity tariffs, imported chemical inputs, and fuel costs for generators during load shedding—water tariffs have remained largely unchanged since 2020.
Engineer Chiyombwe emphasized that energy costs alone consume just over 50% of the company’s earnings.
He stated that this leaves utilities with insufficient funds to maintain systems, expand coverage, or effectively respond to public health emergencies.
This is contained in a statement issued by Zambia NGO WASH Forum Communications Officer Bangwe Naviley.
