The Parliamentary Committee on Parastatal Bodies has called for increased investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of enhancing service delivery and reducing water losses across the country.

During a tour of Mulonga Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (MWSC) in Chingola, Committee Chairperson Dr. Chitalu Chilufya praised the progress made under the Zambia Water and Sanitation Project (ZWSP). The ZWSP, supported by the Government and various development partners, aims to upgrade and expand water supply and sanitation infrastructure in urban and peri-urban areas.

Dr. Chilufya acknowledged the strides made in water production under the project but stressed the need to extend investment to aging water distribution networks.

“We commend the Government for the infrastructure we have inspected today. However, we are calling for more investment, especially in the water distribution network, to ensure that the improved production capacity is not undermined by old and leaking pipelines,” he said.

He further noted that addressing Non-Revenue Water (NRW), water that is produced but lost before it reaches consumers due to leaks, theft, or metering inaccuracies is essential to improving operational efficiency and financial sustainability.

“MWSC needs to drastically reduce water wastage caused by Non-Revenue Water. This can only be achieved through targeted investment in modern, efficient water infrastructure that complements the upgrades in water production,” he added.

On his part, MWSC Managing Director Ndilakulampa Hamalambo said the ZWSP is already yielding tangible results by renewing critical water and sanitation infrastructure. However, he acknowledged that more needs to be done.

“The ZWSP has significantly improved our production and distribution capacity, but it mainly focuses on the supply side. Challenges in the distribution network persist, and we need additional resources to modernize the entire system to deliver consistent and reliable services,” Mr. Hamalambo said.

The Committee on Parastatal Bodies is one the committee’s of parliament mandated to scrutinize the Auditor Generals report parastatals and statutory body.