Zingalume in diarrhoea outbreak

SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes

A SERIOUS outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases has been reported in Lusaka’s Zingalume Compound due to unsafe drinking water.
Some residents interviewed, said because water of shortages, they had been subjected to drinking water that overstayed in containers as they tried to conserve the scarce commodity.
One of the residents Tamara Ngoma said most children in the area were suffering from diarrhoeal diseases because of bad water.
“The water we are drinking overstayed in the containers as we try to conserve it as it is scarce,” Ms Ngoma said.
They complained that most of the times the taps in Zingalume were dry for weeks without explanation from Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC).
The residents said that they had been walking long distances from as early as 04:00 hours to go and look for water from homes with boreholes in their yards.
“We are suffering especially those of us with babies because we wash clothes every day. We cannot continue to live without water because we depend on it for our daily usage,” said Ms Ngoma.
Ms. Ngoma said that residents were also afraid that diseases such as cholera may break out in the area soon.
She explained that the kiosks from which they drew water were rarely opened despite paying registration fees to LWSC.
Another resident, Jonas Silwimba complained that the kiosks were being vandalized by locals due to their non-functioning.
“They have started breaking the taps and getting whatever they can because they feel that they have been closed for long periods without cause. People think they have been abandoned and closed kiosks and will never be opened again,” Mr. Silwimba said.