Wednesday 3 August 2011

ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT CHALLENGES COUNTRY'S WATER AND SANITATION REGULATOR TO DRIVE THE DIRECTION OF WATER AND SANITATION SERVICE PROVISION THROUGH ANTICIPATION OF CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS

GOVERNMENT HAS CHALLENGED THE NATIONAL WATER AND SANITATION COUNCIL TO DRIVE THE DIRECTION OF WATER AND SANITATION SERVICE PROVISION THROUGH ANTICIPATION OF CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS.
SPEAKING TODAY AT THE 5TH EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN WATER AND SANITATION REGULATORS ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETING WHOSE THEME IS BEYOND CONVENTIONAL WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION REGULATION, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT PERMANENT SECRETARY TEDDY KASONSO SAYS THE REGULATION MUST ALSO RESPOND TO THE GRASSROOTS WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE SERVICE.
MR. KASONSO STATED THAT THE CONSUMER CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN IN THE QUEST TO PROVIDE WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SERVICES ADDING THAT IT IS ONLY THROUGH REGULATION THAT THE CRY OF THE CONSUMERS CAN BE HEARD AND ADDRESSED.
HE NOTED THAT THE ASPECT OF SANITATION IS STILL LARGELY OVERLOOKED AND IS EVIDENCED BY THE PERSISTENT LOW COVERAGE FIGURE COMPARED TO THAT OF WATER SUPPLY COVERAGE.
MR KASONSO FURTHER STRESSED THAT THE KEY TO ENSURING EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE SERVICE PROVISION RESTS IN GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE HENCE  THE NEED SECTOR TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS COMMITMENT TO GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES.
HE EXPLAINED THAT  THE REGULATOR, BEING NWASCO MUST CONTINUE WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH RESPONSIBILITY ARE DISCHARGED.
HE HAS SINCE EXPRESSED DISMAY AT THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO HE SAID HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GIVE EXCUSES FOR THE LACK OF INVESTMENT IN SANITATION FOR FAR TOO LONG IN SPITE OF VARIOUS INTERVENTIONS BEING CARRIED OUT BY GOVERNMENT AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
MR KASONSO SAYS THE SCENARIO PRESENTS CONCERNS FOR UNDERGROUND WATER QUALITY AS WELL AS THE HEALTH SAFETY OF THOSE SUPPLYING THEMSELVES HENCE THIS CALL FOR THE REGULATORS TO INSTITUTE GUIDELINES AND MEASURES TO REGULATE SMALL SYSTEM AND INDEPENDENT SUPPLIERS.

published by augustine

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