Boma Iyanganepo Pays Dividends

By Clement Mudaala in Mazabuka

Is “boma iyanganepo!” really a viable development strategy? And if so, would it be possible without the active involvement of the media?

For residents of Bennie Mwiinga ward in Mazabuka, water has been constantly scarce, with taps running dry from as far back as the early 2000s.

In what this reporter can only describe as the power of media engagement with leaders of local government and holding them to account, the story of the people of Highlands, Hillside, Hillside extension and surrounding areas of Mazabuka is one of daily struggle.

The irony is that this is a struggle for one of life’s basic necessities – Water.

As this reporter can attest, the problem could not have been solved without the media actively engaging the Mazabuka leadership and spurring them into action.

On 18^th September, Makanday reporters and their counterparts from MazFm took to the streets of Highlands and Hillside and witnessed people on the move in the late hours of the night, hunting for water.

Those spoken to complained of the water challenges which they described as dire.

“Here, we can’t sleep because of looking for water. The water from Southern Water and Sanitation Company (SWASCO) sometimes comes once in a week and when it does come, it comes late, sometimes as late as 02hrs. So how can you sleep like that,” asked the resident.

District Commissioner Oliver Mulomba when interviewed expressed his anger that of the two water projects in the ward, progress was slow and things were “still dragging.”         

He promised to solve the problem “soon, before our people are subjected to water-borne diseases,”

Now, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.

This is after the Mazabuka town council convened a full meeting during which Mayor Vincent Lilanda took SWASCO to task and urged the utility to speed up the completion of the water project.

Addressing the meeting on 30^th September, Mr. Lilanda revealed that SWASCO had been fully paid for its services on 29^th September and that it should therefore move quickly to finish the works.

Lilanda was disappointed that residents are still facing water shortages despite the project being at over 80% complete. 

He urged SWASCO to complete the project without further delay to help ease the water challenges in highlanders among other compounds in Ben Mwiinga ward.

Questioning the long delay, Fredrick Hanjene, a resident, commented, “Swasco should be serious in this matter. This company receives raw water from Kafue river through Zambia Sugar facilities 24/7, 365 days per year, so where is the problem?

“If they should supply water, let it be during the day and not at 02hrs when people are sleeping”, he added.

Swasco Project Manager Francis Siatwiinda confirmed the new development saying water had started flowing in some selected homes as work on the project continues.

“Yes I can confirm that water has started flowing in some selected homes.The works are still on-going and we are on track. Soon, all homes within our project will have water throughout,” he promised.

This report is a joint MazFm/MakanDay investigative journalism training production