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| Part of the Kafulafuta river |
By Paul Shalala in Masaiti
Feasibility studies for the US$450 million Kafulafuta Dam which
is expected to benefit over 16,000 in Luanshya, Masaiti and Ndola Districts
have commenced.
The construction of the Kafulafuta Dam in Masaiti District,
which is funded by China, is among three huge
capital projects which President Edgar Lungu announced last year as part of his
government’s drive to create 10,000 jobs on the Copperbelt.
The other two are the US$492 million Copperbelt 400 (C400) township
road project and the US$397 million Greenfields International Airport in Ndola.
Tropical Environmental Management, a company which has
been contracted by the Ndola-based Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company, has
commenced its environmental impact assessment at the proposed sites in Ibenga
area of Masaiti.
“We have already selected three sites where there is
potential for a dam. We will soon commence our examination of soil samples, air
and water so we can choose the best site. We will recommend the place which has
minimal impact on people,” said John Simumba, Tropical Environmental Management’s
Managing Director.
His team of three experts includes those who will look at the
relocation of dozens of families who live just a few meters away from the
Kafulafuta river.
The firm has 65 days in which it is to complete its
environmental impact assessment which it is supposed to hand over to the Zambia
Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).
Yesterday, the firm held a well attended scoping meeting in Ibenga
which was attended by hundreds of residents, government officials and
traditional leaders.
And Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company Managing Director
Athanasius Mwaba disclosed during the meeting that the Kafulafuta Dam will
increase the firm’s supply of clean running water to over 80,000 households in
the three districts where the utility provides water.
“This dam will help us increase our water supply in the three
districts. It will have a capacity of 125 million cubic meters of water which
will supply Ndola, Luanshya and Masaiti,” said Mr Mwaba.
He also announced that still under the Kafubu Sustainable Water
and Sanitation Improvement project, the utility will also construct another dam
across the Mpongwe river to provide the first ever clean running water in
Mpongwe District.
During the meeting, several residents who live near the
Kafulafuta river expressed worry about compensation.
Others said they were not sure whether to start cultivating
their fields or not due to the impending displacements.
“My complaint is about basic social amenities where you will
relocate us to. Will we find roads, schools, hospitals and other facilities?”
asked Evaristo Ngowani, a blind old man who has spent years at the government
run Masaiti Blind Center which is 600 meters away from the stream.
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| Chieftainess Malembeka |
Another resident Roydah Musonda had this concern: “Some of us
have built houses, planted trees and spent money at our farms. Will we receive
compensation for all these investments?”
But Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela assured
the residents that the project is aimed at increasing their access to clean
running water and no one will suffer.
“Whoever will be relocated will be compensated. We do not want
our people to be affected as if they are second class citizens,” said Reverend
Sikwela.
Meanwhile Chieftainess Malembeka, whose chiefdom will host part
of the dam, welcomed the development but urged Kafubu Water and Sewerage
Company to ensure that locals are prioritised in jobs which will be created.
Her sentiments were also echoed by Senior Chief Mushili’s
Administrative Secretary Evaristo Kaluba who urged government officials to fulfil
all the promises they were making to Masaiti residents over the dam.
