Partnerships and progress in Lusaka’s peri-urban settlements

Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka, is growing rapidly and it is not slowing down. The country’s population is projected to increase exponentially by the end of the century – the highest growth rate in Africa.[1] Today, 65% of Lusaka’s population lives in informal peri-urban settlements, posing unique challenges for Lusaka’s approach to water infrastructure – along with unique opportunities.

To keep pace with these burgeoning informal settlements, the government formed Lusaka Water and Sewerage (LWS) in the late 1980s. “We realized that water provision in peri-urban settlements were different in terms of socio-economic issues,” says Dennis Malambo, Kabulonga branch manager for LWS. Some of those issues include unplanned streets, lack infrastructure for water or sanitation, overcrowding, and inability to afford water and sanitation services.

To make an impact in these complex environments, the peri-urban department of LWS depends upon partnerships for effectiveness and efficiency. As an example, water access points are managed on behalf of LWS by Water Trusts, groups composed of community members, local councils, churches, and businesses. It ensures that the daily users of the water infrastructure have a stake in the success of the project.

Mr. Malambo explains, “In the past, the community didn’t have ownership of the infrastructure, so there were lots of cases of vandalism and no sustainability. The Water Trusts immediately instilled a sense of ownership, belonging, and continuity. Vandalism has dropped and water theft incidences have been reduced because the same people dealing with these issues also live in the community.”

LWS works with nonprofit partners like Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor(WSUP) to secure funding and build technical capacity. Harold is a member of the Chazanga Water Trust and manages this bore well for his village.