Boreholes Drilled in Lusaka's Cholera Hotspots

After the ban of the use of shallow wells at the height of the Cholera pandemic in Zambia, the government provided over 200 water tanks to help relieve the water challenges, and prevent people from going back to using shallow wells. On one hand, shallow wells are low cost and easy to construct, however on the other hand, a number of waterborne diseases can arise from them causing further complications.

The government has started drilling 20 boreholes at a cost of K22-million in Lusaka’s Kanyama and George Compounds. They are estimated to benefit 48,000 people. The government maintains that it recognises that access to clean water is not a luxury, but a basic human right, and is striving to alleviate the current difficulties accessing water. WaterAid’s Country Director, Ms Yankho Mataya said the target to eliminate Cholera by 2025 would not be met without sufficient investment and better coordination to address the root cause of the disease: lack of access to clean water.

A spokesperson for the government said, “as we break ground on these boreholes, we also look ahead to our extension plans.” The boreholes were commissioned by Water Development Minister Mike Mposha, who hopes that the boreholes will be able to supply the water tanks already provided by the government so people can continue to access clean, safe water and avoid any use of shallow wells. He said, “water challenges will now be a thing of the past in Kanyama.” After President Hichilema named the “triple tragedy” of the Cholera outbreak, coronavirus and the ongoing drought in February, the use of boreholes in Lusaka is a positive step.