Monday, August 17, 2009

Nkana Water cuts supply to police camps, nurses’ hostels

Nkana Water cuts supply to police camps, nurses’ hostels
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Monday, August 17, 2009 2:08:01 AM

NKANA Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) has disconnected water supply to two police camps in Kitwe, including the nurses’ hostels at Kitwe Central Hospital.
This follows a government debt of about K7 billion in unpaid water bills.

NWSC commercial manager, Kenneth Chense, disclosed this on Friday. He complained that discussions with concerned ministries to have them settle the bills had not been fruitful, hence the action to disconnect water.

Chense explained that the Ministry of Local Government and Housing expected water firms to collect debt owed to it by consumers, including government.

“These government institutions have owed us [from] as far back as 14 months. We’re not able to meet our day-to-day obligations because of this debt,” Chense said. “Nothing is forthcoming from government; we have done our best and we are not getting positive results.”

He said the firm did its best to try and negotiate with the Ministry of Home Affairs over the unpaid water bills but nothing materialised.

“We have also disconnected water from the nurses hostels at Kitwe Central Hospital over a K2 billion debt in unpaid water bills,” he said.

Chense said the water utility firm required K4 billion every month to effectively deliver services to its clients.

And some police officers who spoke on condition of anonymity have urged the government to consider settling the water bills to NWSC.

“The disconnection of water from our police camps will definitely have a negative impact on our performance. Already as police officers, we are burdened with a lot of problems, so it just important that the government should move in fast and save us from experiencing more problems,” they said.

They also revealed that other police camps in Kalulushi and Chambishi have had their water disconnected because of debts.

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