Lusaka, August 2024 – OVER 45 companies have been penalised by the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) for non-compliance to water use regulations and for undertaking illegal activities affecting water resources.
WARMA announce in a statement that they have been undertaking compliance inspections across the country to ensure responsible water use and curb illegal activities affecting water resources.
Among those 45 companies penalized include Sable Transport Limited, a firm undertaking the construction and upgrading of the Katete-Chanida Road, who have been penalised for blocking a stream and abstracting water for commercial purposes without a permit. The company had impounded Chilingondi Stream in Katete District of Eastern Province without authorization or guidance from the Authority, resulting in 40 out of the 55 villages who depend on the stream to lose access to water for domestic and livestock use.
In Chipata District of Eastern Zambia, WARMA has charged Bursar Commodities for conducting activities likely to diminish the quantity and quality of water in Lutembwe River. The developer who has built a Trading Centre along Malawi Road within 15 Meters of the Buffer zone of Lutembwe River has since been ordered to demolish the structure and recover the riverbanks by planting trees and nurturing them until they develop.
In Central Zambia, WARMA has penalised some mining companies for directly discharging effluent into Lunsemfwa River, an offence under Section 48 of the Water Resources Management Act No. 21 of 2011.
“The Authority would like to caution that compliance inspections have been intensified and various existing regulations and laws will be strictly enforced to curb encroachment, illegal water use, pollution of water resources and other vices that are negatively affecting the water resources across the country,” says Smart Kalaluka, Senior Public Relations and Communications Officer at WARMA.
Kalaluka says WARMA is committed to ensuring that equitable allocation of water is achieved even amidst the drought with priority being given to domestic and non-commercial usage.
He says members of the public are encouraged to promote efficient water conservation while commercial water users are urged to comply with regulations and obtain the necessary permits to avoid penalties.
Commercial farmers and industrial agribusinesses have had a challenge getting enough water for their winter crop irrigation purposes due to the prevailing drought that has resulted in dam silting and construction near river beds blocking water flow.
