Councillors in Mkushi District have called on Mkushi Town Council to consider procuring a borehole drilling machine in order to address persistent water challenges affecting communities across the district.
The civic leaders say many residents continue to struggle to access safe and clean water, with some communities relying on rivers, shallow wells, and a limited number of boreholes.
They argue that acquiring a drilling machine would enable the local authority to respond more swiftly to water-related challenges while reducing the high costs associated with outsourcing borehole drilling services.
Nkumbi Ward Councillor Shaft Chimanya, told ZANIS in an interview that residents are forced to cover long distances in search of clean and safe water.
“Our people travel long distances just to access clean water, which affects their daily lives and productivity. Procuring a drilling machine will help address this challenge and also reduce the cost of outsourcing drilling services,” Mr Chimanya said.
Meanwhile, Nshinso Ward Councillor Edward Chuuka said the water challenge has affected some newly constructed schools that have no boreholes, forcing pupils to fetch water from unsafe sources.
“Some newly built schools have no running water, and children are forced to fetch water from nearby rivers where animals also drink from. This is not safe at all,” Mr Chuuka said.
Chibefwe Ward Councillor Christopher Mutale warned that continued reliance on unsafe water sources exposes residents to waterborne diseases, posing a serious public health risk.
“When people use unsafe water, they are exposed to diseases, which becomes a serious health concern for our communities,” Mr Mutale said.
Meanwhile, Mkushi Town Council Chairperson Melson Chilemu has acknowledged the concerns raised by the councillors, stating that the need for a borehole drilling machine in the district cannot be overemphasised.
Mr Chilemu, however, advised councillors to follow laid-down procedures by proposing the acquisition of the drilling machine through their respective Ward Development Committees.
