Siazweela and Mungulu villages in Sinazongwe district of Southern province are grappling with an erratic water supply.
Sinazongwe district is among the 84 districts badly hit the current drought that has affected Zambia.
Mungulu Village Headman, Patrick Shakalumbwe, has since reported that residents are forced to share a shallow well with animals, posing health risks.
This came to light during a site visit by Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ), which is executing a Resilient Initiatives for Sustainable Environment (RISE) Project in Sinazongwe and Serenje districts, with support from Bread for the World.
And CEJ Executive Director, Maggie Mwape, assured that her organization is collaborating with other stakeholders to find a solution to the water challenges in the area.
“Notably, this situation disproportionately affects vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly, visually impaired, and physically challenged,” said Ms. Mwape.
Ms. Mwape emphasized that the Government has reallocated resources from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to address climate change effects, including drought.
She appealed to the development sector, including the donor community, to support the Government’s efforts in enhancing water supply.
Meanwhile, CEJ Head of Research and Studies, Freeman Mubanga, highlighted his organization’s partnership with Bread for the World, to assess water security in mining communities.
He also pointed out that water scarcity exacerbates gender inequality, as girls spend more time fetching water instead of attending school.
By Eva Hatontola
