Government to Improve Water Infrastructure in North-West Province

Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo has confirmed the government’s commitment to strengthen the North-West water infrastructure, recognising the region's strategic potential to drive growth in the agricultural sector. Speaking at the commissioning of the rehabilitated Kantenda Dam in Kasempa District, Mtolo emphasised the importance of harnessing the province's agricultural potential to transform it into the nation’s food basket.

Mtolo reported that six of the eight rehabilitated dams in Southern, Western, and North-Western Provinces are operational. These projects are central to the government’s strategy of enabling year-round farming through water harvesting and storage. Mtolo praised the residents of the province, saying, “You are showing us that you can feed Zambia. We will give you as much water as we can, as many dams as we can, so you can improve on your current agricultural tendencies by having water that you can control.”

Supporting this initiative, Silvia Mauri, Senior Agriculture Specialist at the World Bank, announced that $14 million of funding has been allocated for the rehabilitation of the eight dams under the $168 million Irrigation Development Support Project. Mauri underlined the significance of these investments in improving Zambia’s agricultural resilience amid climate variability.

The Kantenda Dam, one of the flagship projects, is expected to support local farmers by providing reliable water resources for irrigation and other agricultural uses. This initiative reflects a broader governmental push to strengthen rural economies and empower communities through sustainable agricultural practices.