Government of Japan Provides 197,894 US Dollars for the Project for the Construction of a Water Supply System in Mangango, Kaoma District, Western Province under Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects

On 10^th October 2016, Mr Shuichi Sakakibara, Chargés d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to the Republic of Zambia, signed a grant contract amounting to 197,894 US Dollars with Mr Elisha Ng’onomo, Executive Director, Village Water Zambia, to facilitate the implementation of The Project for the Construction of a Water Supply System in Mangango, Kaoma District, Western Province.

Village Water Zambia was established in 2005 to support communities to access clean and safe water. Since its establishment, it has constructed more than 453 wells and supported communities to enhance ownership, household sanitation, or maintenance of facilities. However, at Mangango in Western Province, citizens do not have access to clean and safe water because some old wells have dried up or pumps for the wells are not working. For this reason, small children and women have to carry water from Luena River which runs through Mangango area. Many children have to drop out of school for this labor. In addition, the use of unsafe water causes serious infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, bilharzia and intestinal worms. Even though the Government of Zambia aims to improve water sanitation in the country, 4.8 million people, which is one third of the Zambian population, do not have access to clean and safe water.

In order to improve water sanitation in this country, the Government of Japan is pleased to support the implementation of The Project for the Construction of a Water Supply System in Mangango, Kaoma District, Western Province. The project enables 8,112 citizens in Mangango area to access clean and safe water. As a result, it is expected that the incidence of infectious diseases will be reduced and the well-being and health of the people will be enhanced.    

This project will be implemented in cooperation with a Japanese private company, YAMAHA MOTOR. Village Water Zambia will supply YAMAHA MOTOR’s water supply system. YAMAHA MOTOR will contribute by sending its technicians for the installation of the equipment and providing training for the people in the community for maintenance purpose. YAMAHA MOTOR is one of the representative Japanese companies, which is well-known for bikes and boats in the sphere of motors. In addition, the company has installed water supply systems in several African countries. Through implementing this project, it is expected that more Japanese companies with high-technology and experience in community development will expand their businesses to improve social welfare in Zambia and contribute to the development of this country.

　To read the speech made by Mr Shuichi Sakakibara, Chargés d'Affaires ad interim of Japan to the Republic of Zambia, at this ceremony, please click here.