Germany & the Government Commit Millions to Protect the Kafue River

Germany and the government have agreed to launch a new six million euro project aimed at securing water resources in the upper Kafue catchment - one of the country's most critical river systems.

GIZ Water and Energy Cluster Coordinator Anke Peine-Ellis confirmed the project is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with a team of experts currently in discussions with government and stakeholders on its scope and priorities.

Ms Peine-Ellis said the initiative will bring together government, civil society and the private sector in a coordinated effort to protect the Kafue River, with pollution from industries in the region identified as a key challenge to be addressed. Water supply technologies and infrastructure will also form part of the response.

The Kafue is the country's longest river and the backbone of water supply for a significant portion of the population, including major urban and industrial centres on the Copperbelt.

The new project sits alongside a broader German financial commitment to the water and sanitation sector. The German Embassy confirmed that a further 26.5 million euros is planned for 2026 under the second phase of NEWZA — the Nexus Energy Water Programme — co-funded with the European Union under the Team Europe approach. The programme will extend support to commercial utilities in Eastern, Southern, Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces, including along the Lobito Corridor.

The Embassy said the focus of that programme is on helping utilities operate on sound commercial principles — improving cost recovery, operational efficiency and revenue collection — as a foundation for expanding infrastructure and attracting further investment.