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The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation has reiterated the importance of strategic partnerships and cost-reflective tariffs in improving access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water services across the country.
Commenting on recent developments in Luapula Province, Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Collins Nzovu, said the ongoing initiatives was being undertaken by the Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (LpWSC) in partnership with 4Ward Development Zambia Limited.
According to a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, LpWSC has engaged 4Ward Development Zambia Limited to support the management and operation of small piped water supply schemes in rural growth centres.
Under the collaboration, 4Ward Development Zambia Limited provides operational expertise, system management, and efficiency-driven approaches that ensure consistent water supply, timely infrastructure maintenance, and better responsiveness to community needs.
The partnership is also helping expand water connections in underserved areas, thereby increasing access to clean and safe water while promoting sustainable service delivery models in rural communities.
“The performance of such privately managed schemes offers valuable insights into the actual cost of delivering water services,” Nzovu said.
He explained that private operators often implemented tariffs that more closely reflected the true cost of operations, enabling them to maintain infrastructure effectively, respond promptly to system faults, and expand services efficiently.
In contrast, he noted, many Commercial Utilities — including LpWSC — continue to operated under relatively low tariff structures that did not fully reflect the cost of service provision.
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“While these tariffs are intended to support affordability, they often constrain the utilities’ capacity to invest in infrastructure development, system maintenance, and service expansion,” he said.
Nzovu emphasised that sustainable water service delivery required a balanced approach that safeguarded affordability for citizens while ensuring the financial viability of service providers.
He noted that the LpWSC–4Ward partnership demonstrated that efficient operations, supported by appropriate tariff structures, could significantly enhance service delivery outcomes.
The Minister urged other Commercial Utilities to emulate LpWSC by forming strategic partnerships with private-sector players, improving operational efficiencies, and strengthening customer engagement to ensure that no community was left behind in accessing safe and reliable water services.
“The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote innovation, sustainability, and equitable access to water services, in line with national development priorities,” Nzovu said.
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