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Government has expressed deep concern over the rising cases of vandalism and theft targeting infrastructure belonging to Mulonga Water Supply and Sanitation Company (MWSC).
Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Collins Nzovu said the criminal acts continued to disrupt the supply of safe drinking water to communities.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Nzovu revealed that in the past week alone, two major incidents of vandalism and theft were recorded on new installations under the Zambia Water and Sanitation Project (ZWSP) in Chingola and Mufulira.
He said in Chingola, an air relief valve coupled with a control valve worth K58,000 was stolen from a newly commissioned DN500mm main supply pipeline designed to deliver bulk water from the Kasompo Distribution Control Centre to Chingola Central, Riverside, and surrounding areas.
“The theft disrupted water supply to more than 4,000 residents,” Nzovu said.
In Mufulira, unknown individuals reportedly vandalized and stole electricity cables valued at K72,000 from a newly rehabilitated river water intake with a raw water capacity of 30MLD, supplying the MCM water treatment plant.
During the same period, cables worth K4,000 were also said to have been stolen from a newly constructed borehole in Zimba peri-urban.
“This borehole, implemented by MWSC with government support, represents the first piped water infrastructure in the area since independence,” Nzovu said.
He stressed that the criminal acts came at a critical time when the government was intensifying efforts to achieve universal access to safe water and decent sanitation.
Nzovu noted that vandalism and theft not only delayed project implementation but also undermined significant progress being made through the ZWSP.
“The ZWSP, being implemented by MWSC with government support, is a €156 million investment aimed at rehabilitating and expanding water supply and sanitation infrastructure to enhance service delivery,” Nzovu explained.
He added that repeated incidents of vandalism and theft had caused costly setbacks and delays in completing critical project components.
The Minister warned that such acts would not be tolerated, stressing that offenders would face the full force of the law.
“The Ministry has further directed the Zambia Police Service to intensify operations, not only to apprehend vandals and thieves but also to prosecute individuals and entities involved in purchasing stolen water installations, as receiving stolen property is equally a crime,” Nzovu said.
He further called on members of the public to take ownership of water and sanitation infrastructure by safeguarding these facilities and reporting suspicious activities.
Nzovu emphasized that protecting the installations was essential to ensure national investments delivered their intended benefits of improved access to safe water and sanitation for all Zambians.
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