Residents tampering water sources face prosecution

—-Northern Province Permanent Secretary Hlobota Nkunika has appealed to all residents that have encroached on water sources to vacate or face prosecution.

Mr Nkunika said this in Kasama when he addressed residents on the negative impact of tampering with water sources.

The Permanent Secretary observed that the encroachment of undesignated pieces of land close to water sources has become rampant in the province.

He said this is causing a huge risk to the sources and consequently impacting negatively on the ultimate goal of providing improved water services.

Mr Nkunika appealed to residents in Kasama, Mporokoso, Mungwi and Luwingu districts to immediately stop human activities such as indiscriminately cutting down of trees  and moulding of brinks near the water sources.

He explained that such activities can cause the sources to dry up rapidly as their natural flow will have been disturbed.

Mr Nkunika further warned the residents that such activities are illegal and if anyone chooses not to heed the to stop call will be prosecuted.

He said it will be pointless for government to continue investing in the resource when the water sources have been tampered with and is low in quantities.

Mr Nkunika also encouraged the communities and stakeholders to cooperate and conserve water by taking good care of the sources.