Government has started the maintenance and rehabilitation of dams in Lusaka Province in response to the drought experienced in most parts of the country.

Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Robert Kamalata says the province has 150 existing dams with 75 located in Chongwe District.

Mr Kamalata said this when he inspected Katoba (A) dam, one of the dams earmarked for rehabilitation in Chongwe District.

He said the exercise is being conducted in an effort to mitigate the effects of the drought.  

“We all know that the President has declared the drought as a national disaster and has directed that we identify existing dams and rehabilitate them”, he said

Mr Kamalata said the drought has underscored the importance of water resources, urging the community to conserve the little resource that is available.

He said 80 percent of crops in Lusaka Province have been destroyed due to the harsh weather conditions prompting the government to prioritize dams as a solution to the crisis.

Mr Kamalata reaffirmed the government’s commitment to aiding those affected by the drought.

“Government will be conducting an assessment on households that are severely affected by the drought and will send relief households,” he said.

 He urged the headmen to ensure that all affected households benefit from the relief food.

And Chongwe District Administrative Officer Kelvin Ndandanda administrative officer disclosed that rehabilitation of dams in Chongwe district has commenced.

Mr Ndandanda stated that 5 out of 7 dams have been completed and the committees have been put in place to safeguard and over activities around the dams

“People of katoba should consider themselves blessed to have the government coming and to help with the maintenance and rehabilitation of the dams” Mr. Ndandanda said.

Meanwhile, Chongwe District Farmers Coordinator, Goodson Phiri says, Katoba Dam A serves 10 villages comprising 1,200 households.