Fri, 25 Aug 2017 14:15:54 +0000
By Linda Soko Tembo
THE lack of adequate water sources in Chasefu constituency in Eastern Province has resulted in water crisis in the area, Member of Parliament Gerald Zimba has said.
Mr. Zimba has bemoaned not only the lack of clean drinking water but also inadequate sources in his constituency. He explained that the constituency had been experiencing water crisis as the boreholes installed in the area were inadequate.
Mr Zimba pointed out that most of the wells in the area had dried up, making it difficult even for animals to access drinking water.
He said that the people had to move long distances just to fetch water from some distant schools and clinics which had hand pumps.
“The water situation is very bad such that even some of the clinics and schools where people go to fetch water they don’t have because the boreholes are drained,” he said.
The lawmaker said that the situation was saddening, adding that the last time he visited his constituency, he witnessed people sharing water with animals from the same source.
“I could literally see people drawing water from mud sources after animal had passed through the water. People had to wait for the water to settle, that’s when they draw water and that’s their way of life. It is a big challenge,” said Mr. Zimba.
Mr Zimba explained that he had decided to expose the problems that people in his constituency were going through, because they were unbearable.
He said that he has held meetings with the MPs from the neighbouring Lundazi Central and Lumezi constituencies to see how best the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), yet to be received would be used to rectify the situation.
“We agreed with other MPs that we will use part of the CDF to buy drilling machines and other machinery. This is the only lasting solution that we can come up with to help the people in our constituencies have access to clean water,” said Mr Zimba.
He disclosed that a quotation had already been acquired, availing how much the machinery would cost, and that the moment money is available, boreholes would be drilled in the constituency.
