Zambian Breweries brings clean water to the country’s townships to help avert cholera outbreaks

By Wallace Mawire [caption id="attachment_43297" align="alignleft" width="1000"] Hon. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Zambian Breweries country director Jose
Moran, corporate affairs director Ezekiel Sekele and women from
Bauleni.[/caption] Zambian Breweries has provided a 30 000-litre water bowser to the government taskforce on cholera and Lusaka Water Sewerage Company (LWSC) to help distribute clean safe water and help stop cholera in Lusaka townships. In response to the recent outbreak of cholera in Lusaka, the water bowser will help in the provision of good quality water in the short and medium term. The company has also allocated funds to construct water boreholes in the most affected areas that include Matero and Kanyama. Local Area Member of Parliament and Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Hon. Margaret Mwanakatwe thanked Zambian Breweries for taking the step ad said: “When you see Zambian Breweries bringing on board a 30,000-litre water bowser, distributing water all around Lusaka, that’s what I call awesome,” said Mrs Mwanakatwe. “This shows that the will is there and the pulling of resources is such that we are going to win the fight against cholera,” she added. [caption id="attachment_43299" align="alignleft" width="1000"] Hon. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Zambian Breweries country director Jose
Moran and corporate affairs director Ezekiel Sekele test the water in
Bauleni.[/caption] “We need to issue that our people have clean safe water.” Mrs Mwanakatwe added: “Zambian Breweries has put forward K2.5 million, of which part of it will be used to sink boreholes around Lusaka. I am happy Bauleni is among those areas that are going to receive the industrial borehole right here in my constituency.” And Zambian Breweries Country Director Jose Moran during the official ceremony in Bauleni said: “Access to safe water and sanitation facilities is critical to stop the spread of cholera and waterborne diseases. The 30,000-litre water bowser will help many townships in Lusaka to have access to safe clean water.” The water bowser will be ferrying water from LWSC sites to selected townships in Lusaka. Zambian Breweries is keen to improve access to potable water, which in turn improves the livelihoods of the people in the townships. With clean water it is easier to observe hygiene and food safety. Some townships in Lusaka have been relying on shallow wells as a source of drinking water, which is not safe for consumption due to proximity to pit latrines. Because of this, ground water in these places is contaminated and is not suitable for consumption. “In our efforts to create a better world we continue with our support in improving the lively hood of citizens in the townships. We recently donated over K2.5 million of a wide range of items in support of Government’s efforts to contain the outbreak of cholera,” said Mr Moran. “Providing the water bowser in this case, will enable the government to distribute clean safe water to the townships without safe clean water.” Cholera is a serious contagious disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, and can kill within hours if left untreated. As government is coming up with long-term solutions, Zambian Breweries is making sure it helps save lives from cholera and any other water borne diseases. Water is a very important, we cannot do without it in our homes and daily lives. Hence, Zambian Breweries has pledged its support in helping stop the spread of cholera with its donation of over K2.5 million of a wide range of items to support Government’s efforts to contain the outbreak of cholera. K1 million was spent on cleaning materials, clinical equipment, office furniture and assorted nutritional and carbonated soft drinks. The balance of K1.5 million went towards constructing water boreholes in two townships of Lusaka.