28/04/2026
Zambia Reaffirms Commitment to Universal Water Access by 2030
Lusaka, April 27, 2026 — The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030.
Speaking during the Water Supply and Sanitationn Sector Report Launch last evening, Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Eng. Collins Nzovu, said the sector has continued to make progress despite mounting challenges, including climate change, rapid urbanisation and ageing infrastructure.
The Minister highlighted that Zambia is working towards 100 percent water supply coverage and 90 percent sanitation access by 2030, in line with national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goal 6.
He noted that recent drought conditions, declared a national disaster in 2024, had significantly impacted water availability but also prompted decisive government action.
“As part of the drought response, over 718 dams have undergone maintenance, major rehabilitation works have been completed on key infrastructure and more than 200 boreholes have been drilled across affected areas,” he said.
According to the Minister, these interventions are expected to benefit over two million people, particularly in drought-affected communities.
He further revealed that government has developed a comprehensive Drought Response Plan, alongside a National Rainwater Harvesting Strategy, aimed at strengthening water security and resilience.
Despite these gains, the Minister acknowledged persistent sector challenges, including non-revenue water levels exceeding 50 percent, vandalism of infrastructure and pollution of water sources.
He emphasised the need for enhanced efficiency among commercial utilities and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to address these issues.
“Reducing non-revenue water is critical to ensuring the financial sustainability of utilities and improving service delivery,” he said.
The Minister also announced the launch of the Ministry’s Change Management and Gender Strategy and Implementation Plan, describing it as a key step towards strengthening institutional performance and improving service delivery.
In addition, government continues to implement policy and legal reforms, including the National Water Policy of 2024 and ongoing revisions to key water sector legislation.
On public health, the Minister noted that strengthened interventions in water, sanitation and hygiene have contributed to preventing cholera outbreaks during the current season.
He further highlighted the importance of cost-reflective tariffs to sustain infrastructure development, while balancing affordability for citizens.
The Minister called on all stakeholders, including cooperating partners and the public, to support government efforts in protecting water infrastructure and promoting responsible water use.
The annual sector report provides a comprehensive assessment of the performance of water and sanitation service providers and serves as a key accountability tool for the sector.
