Denmark gives Zambia $34m grant

DENMARK has given Zambia a grant of US$34 million in addition to the loan facility to a tune of US$70.1 million towards the reticulation of water and sanitation programmes.
The $70.1 million loan facility was provided by Nordea Bank of Denmark while the U$34 million was contributed by the Danish Agency for International Development.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said at the signing ceremony yesterday that the total financing project received would go to Kafubu Sustainable Water and Sanitation improvement project.
“It is Government’s sincere hope that the Kafubu Sustainable Water and Sanitation Improvement Project will greatly contribute to the social and economic benefits for the people,” Mr Chikwanda said.
Access to clean water and adequate sanitation were vital to health improvement and bettering the lives of many Zambians through out the country.
The Finance Minister hoped that the project would help increase employment opportunities, improve health and living conditions of people in places where the project would be implemented.
The loan agreement would aid the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure and develop skills to ensure effective water resource management.
“This project will improve the water services to an additional 100,000 people where the water and waste water facilities are either non-existing or in a progressive state of physical depreciation,” he said.
Efficient provision of reliable safe water and sanitation services were among the ruling party’s continued vision of ensuring that Zambia had clean water and sanitation for economic growth and improved livelihood.
The project activities would target Ndola, Luanshya, and Masaiti districts and would be implemented by the Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company which was the operational water and sewerage utility company in the targeted towns.
“I therefore wish to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Nordea bank for this loan facility and DANIDA for the grant which will

Times of Zambia