Southern Water Supply and Sanitation Company SWSC […]

Southern Water Supply and Sanitation Company SWSC Managing Director Gift Monde has attributed the lack of upgrade in water infrastructure to a low budget allocation of about two percent.

Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Monde said investment in the sector has not kept pace with growing demand, particularly in rapidly expanding settlements where infrastructure development is needed to support population growth.

He explained that while utilities are working to improve service delivery, limited funding affects the pace at which new projects can be implemented. “The water sector receives about two percent of the national budget.

When you look at the infrastructure requirements needed to expand access and improve services, there is a need for increased investment in the sector,” Monde said.

 He noted that Southern Water has continued to expand its customer base, adding approximately 3,000 household connections annually and bringing the total number of connections to about 78,000.

According to information provided by Monde, about 95 percent of the population within the utility’s service area has access to piped water, while safely managed sanitation coverage stands at around 85 percent.

 However, he said the remaining areas without piped water are mainly found in newly developing settlements where population growth has outpaced infrastructure expansion. Monde also pointed to challenges in securing external financing, noting that cooperating partners often prioritise larger urban centres and border towns, making it more difficult for some areas to attract investment. Despite these challenges, SWSC is implementing several projects aimed at improving service delivery.

 In addition, SWSC has initiated the installation of photovoltaic solar systems at selected treatment plants as part of efforts to improve energy resilience and reduce operational risks linked to climate change. Monde said continued investment in water and sanitation infrastructure will be important in helping utilities meet growing demand and improve service coverage in the future.

Article by Karen Ngulube