RESIDENTS of Malembeka area in Luangwa Township of Kitwe District have appealed to the Nkana Water and Sanitation Company to address the water blues that have persisted in the area.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview, the residents said the area has not had water supply for many months.

The residents explained that they are forced to walk long distances to look for clean drinking water.

“We have to walk long distances looking for water and even then some of the water sources are unreliable and the water is contaminated,” Grace Kamweka, one of the resident of Malembeka area explained.

“If not addressed, the water shortage will lead to diseases such as diarrhoea in our township,” Ms. Kamweka added.

The residents state that the water crisis has been worsened by the drought experienced in the 2023/2024 rainy season.

They revealed that the few people in the area who have sunk boreholes sell the commodity, adding that many people cannot afford to buy water hence resort to fetching from unsafe sources.

The residents have appealed to government to sink new boreholes in the area and rehabilitate the old water supply infrastructure to meet the growing demand for water.                                                         

Meanwhile, Luangwa Ward councilor, Mary Zimba confirmed the water crisis in the area.

Ms. Zimba stated that Nkana Water and Sanitation is in the process of installing water tanks that will improve the availability of clean water in the area.