Hichilema launches €12m water project for Kazungula

President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned a major water supply project in Kazungula, designed to serve thousands of residents in the fast-growing Southern Province border town.

The €12 million Kazungula Water Supply and Basic Sanitation Project represents a significant investment in infrastructure.

Funding for the initiative comes from a partnership between the Zambian government, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The project addresses critical water security challenges in Kazungula, where rapid population growth has strained existing infrastructure. Officials project the town's population will surge from 5,500 residents in 2015 to approximately 22,000 by 2040.

The comprehensive development includes a new water intake system on the Zambezi River, expanded treatment facilities, and over 29 kilometres of distribution networks connecting communities across the area.

Special provisions have been made for low-income residents, with community water kiosks installed in disadvantaged areas alongside modern pumping stations and storage reservoirs.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Water and Sanitation Minister Collins Nzovu read a statement on behalf of President Hichilema, highlighting the project's dual focus on immediate needs and long-term sustainability.

"We are proud to commission phase one of this project which delivers safe piped water to residents, half of whom live in low-income areas," the statement read. "This infrastructure has been thoughtfully designed to be climate resilient and future ready."