Kafue Basin Communities Receive $60,000 to Sustain Natural Resources

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and WorldFish have donated US$60,000 to communities in the lower Kafue basin to support their work in sustaining plant and animal life in the area.

WorldFish Southern Africa Director Victor Siamudala said the lower Kafue basin is an ecologically important area which delivers many socio-economic benefits to Zambia and therefore requires a sustainable investment plan.

He highlighted that the area is contains 50% of the hydropower generation, commercial irrigation, grazing land, and fish stocks that Zambia needs to secure.

IWMI and WorldFish have provided the $60,000 to three commmunity working groups in Kafue, to fund a coordinated approach to managing the basin through a multi-stakeholder platform.

Meanwhile. Chieftainess Muwezwa of the Ila people in Itezhi Tezhi District said her chiefdom is open to supporting and groups who are interested in raising living standards for people in the local area.

The traditional leader said she was impressed by the measures government had taken so far to support people in her are affected by climate change, including recent droughts and floods.