The Kazungula Water Project was commissioned this week by Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia.
The project was co-funded by the SADC Water Fund (led by the Development Bank of Southern Africa-DBSA) and co-financed by the German and Zambian governments.
It is a €12 million initiative, expected to provide access to potable water and sanitation in Kazungula, to over 200,000 people.
It is also in a strategic trade corridor, connecting Southern Africa.
The project also runs fully off-grid via a 220- kV solar plant, and employed about 220+ people, created during construction phase.
Speaking at the event, Hichilema said lives are saved by reducing the need to fetch water from crocodile-infested rivers.
He also said the project is expected to strengthen regional integration and economic activity.
Petrus Matji, an Independent Non-Executive Director at the DBSA, said “the Kazungula Water Project’s goal is to deliver reliable and safe water, transforming lives and uplifting the community. This targeted initiative reflects the DBSA’s critical role in building a resilient, inclusive and integrated SADC region.”
Picture: AfDB