Partnerships and Affordable Tariffs Key to Improving Water Services
The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation has highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships and cost-reflective tariffs in improving access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water services nationwide.
Speaking in Luapula Province, Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Hon. Eng. Collins Nzovu, MP, commended ongoing initiatives by Luapula Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (LpWSC) in collaboration with 4Ward Development Zambia Limited.
Under the partnership, 4Ward Development Zambia Limited supports the management and operation of small piped water supply schemes in rural growth centres.
The company provides operational expertise, system management, and efficiency-driven approaches, ensuring consistent water supply, timely maintenance, and improved responsiveness to community needs.
The initiative is also expanding water connections in underserved areas, promoting sustainable service delivery in rural communities.
Minister Nzovu noted that privately managed schemes often reflect the true cost of delivering water services through tariffs that support infrastructure maintenance, rapid fault response, and service expansion.
In contrast, many commercial utilities, including LpWSC, operate under relatively low tariff structures that, while intended to keep services affordable, can limit investment in infrastructure and service growth.
He emphasised that sustainable water service delivery requires a balance between affordability for citizens and the financial viability of service providers.
The partnership between LpWSC and 4Ward Development Zambia Limited, he said, demonstrates how efficient operations combined with appropriate tariff structures can improve service delivery outcomes.
The Minister encouraged other commercial utilities to follow LpWSC’s example by fostering private-sector partnerships, improving operational efficiency, and engaging customers to ensure all communities have access to safe, reliable water services.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting initiatives that drive innovation, sustainability, and equitable access to water services, aligning with Zambia’s national development priorities.
