Zambia+Current+Events



__**March 2008

Maamba Loses Water Supply Licence**__



**The operating licence for Maamba Colliries that gives permission to supply them with water has been revoked and Sewerage COmpany and Souther Water has been appointed to manage this water scheme. This was announced yesterday by Housing Minister Sylvia Masebo at a press conference in Lusaka. She said that this licence was cancelled after the inspections that were made, which showed that the water supplied to Maamba township was not treated. Ms. Masebo said that the consumers of this water had raised many compaints before.

The minister said that the Goverment had delegated the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) to monitor their quiality of service operation, control of pricing and ensure to ensure that there was a good quality of water and sanitation services.

"NWASCO has cancelled the operating licence that was issued to Maamba Collieries paying way for appointment of a statutory manager to manage the whole water scheme until Maamba Collieries can show capanility to manage the scheme," Said Ms. Masebo.

With the ned developement being meade, it means that Southern Water and Sewerage Company would now be responsible to take care of the billing and the collection of the water used by Maamba's consumers.

Ms. Masebo said that Southern Water and Sewerage Company would apply that approved tariffs from NWASCO. She also said that management at Maamba Collieries shoyld give full access to the Southern Water and Sewerage Company of Maamba Collieries to enable it carry its mandate effectively.

"The statotory manager of Southern Water and Sewerage Company of Maamba will be reviewed after one year to assess the capacity of Maamba Collieries to take up the service provision," Ms. Masebo said. She urged Southern Water and Sewerage Company to ensure that it offered its consumers water that was safe to drink for human consumption. Ms. Masebo also warned all the private water scheme owners providing a service to ensure that they don't compromise their services.**



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