Warma Newsletter 2020
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2020 RTER N 2 WATER RESOURCES NEWSLETTERA Water Resourses Management Authority Quarterly Publication 1ST EDITION - ISSUE NO. 1 A Message From The Director General On behalf of WARMA management and staff, and indeed on my own behalf I wish to sincerely thank you for taking time to read our newsletter and hope that you will find it informative enough on matters relating to governance of water resources 2 in the country. Dr. Wanchinga Unvails The WARMA Board Of Directors At Mika Convention Center The Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environment Protection (MWDSEP), Dr. Dennis Wanchinga, MP, on 29th April, 2020, unveiled the newly appointed Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) Board of 3 Directors at the Mika Convention Centre. PS. Sakala Launches Out-put Based Training Workshop Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mabvuto Sakala, was guest of honour at the recent Out-put Based Budgeting Training for the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) Management and Staff, 10 which took place at Sandys Creation in Lusaka. WATER RESOURCES NEWSLETTER 1 2N RTER A Message From The Director General to ensure that timely data and information is gathered to inform decision making, there has been several occurrences that have hindered smooth implementation of these planned measures. Like other organisations, the emergency of the global pandemics such as COVID19, has had a negative impact on the operations of the Authority. However, efforts have been made as guided by government through Ministry of Health to continue carrying out programmes while observing health guidelines to ensure that there is no disruption in service provision to the general public. Under these challenging times, we still feel obliged to share some of the outcomes and events that have taken place during the 2nd quarter of the year 2020 through the publication of this inaugural 1st Edition WARMA Newsletter. It is our belief that through this platform, the Authority will receive feedback from the general public and development partners that will ensure the Authority remains focused on delivering on Dear reader, its mandate. n behalf of WARMA management and The appointment of the Board of Directors staff, and indeed on my own behalf I for WARMA in April 2020 by the Honorable wish to sincerely thank you for taking Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and time to read our newsletter and hope Environmental Protection Dr. Dennis Wachinga, Othat you will find it informative enough on matters MP, was timely and has further enhanced smooth relating to governance of water resources in the operations of the Authority. Management and country. Your feedback, whether negative or staff are confident that under the guidance positive is more than welcome as it is the only of the Board, the public is poised to witness way we as an Authority can improve the way we major improvement in the performance of the do our business. Authority. Water resources are at the core of sustainable Furthermore, the Authority wish to express its development in any country and are critical gratitude to the members of the public for for socio-economic development, healthy their support in partnering with the Authority in ecosystems and for human survival itself. For this discharging its functions. This can be attributed reason, Zambia has made considerable progress to the increased awareness among the general in improving management of water resources in citizenry as evidenced by the increase in the the last decade as a major milestone towards number of complaints that the general public achieving the Vision 2030 targets, Sustainable continue to lodge regarding unfair practices by Development Goals (SDGs) and the 7th National some stakeholders such as drilling firms and also Development Plan (7-NDP). reports of illegal abstraction of water among others. This is a clear indicator that there has The establishment of the Water Resources been a paradigm shift in the way the public Management Authority by an Act of Parliament perceive matters relating to water resources. the “Water Resources Management Act No21 of 2011”, led to a major shift in the manner Zambia’s It is my sincere hope once again that you will find water resources are governed. For the first time our Newsletter not only interesting to read, but in the history of Zambia, groundwater became informative as well. subject to regulation. This has significantly God Bless contributed to enhanced data collection, improved utilization and curtailed threats of pollution to water resources. Eng. Kenneth Nyundu While, the Authority has relentlessly forged ahead Director General 2 WATER RESOURCES NEWSLETTER A Message From The Director General Dr. Wanchinga Unvails The WARMA Board Of Directors At Mika Convention Center inister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environment Protection (MWDSEP), MDr. Dennis Wanchinga, on 29th April, 2020, unveiled the newly appointed Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) Board of Directors at the Mika Convention Centre. During the official availing of the new WARMA Board of Directors, the Minister said; ‘’Water ranks next only to air in importance in sustaining all forms of life, but additionally, water plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of our country. it is a requirement in the functioning of various productive sectors of the economy, ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, mining, tourism and other industries. we depend on water for electricity generation. over 90% of our power needs is met through water-based generation. He continued; ‘Despite this critical importance of water, this resource faces serious challenges Dr. Dennis Wanchinga addressing newly appointed ranging from the impacts of climate change Board Members and the media during the (evaporation), siltation, encroachment on unveiling of the WARMA Board of Directors at Mika water bodies, pollution of both surface and Convention Centre in Lusaka. underground water resources and disturbance dealing with as a board.’’ to sensitive ecological systems of head-waters. The use of water is also not without conflicts, Dr. Wanchinga urged the new board to ensure especially among farmers, hydro-power that the Authority meets the set objectives and generators, among trans-boundary water users mandate by providing policy and strategic and even among domestic water users arising direction as WARMA has various functions, which from indiscriminate borehole drilling and waste includes the following: disposal. These are some of the issues you will be Newly appointed Board Members pose for a group photo with Dr. Wachinga, MWDSEP Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mabvuto Sakala, WARMA DG, Eng. Kenneth Nyundu and Director of Planning at MWDSEP, Mr. Tobias Musonda, at the MIKA Convension Centre. WATER RESOURCES NEWSLETTER 3 A. To identify and protect potential sources of (Traditional Chef in Luapula of Mwansakombe fresh water; Village), and B. Conserve, preserve and protect the Others are; Ms. Nalukena Mutti-Vantra (Associate environment, taking into account challenges LLB at Lukona Chambers), Ms. Ennie Muchelemba of climate change; (Chemical Engineering – Lecturer at UNZA), and Mr. Chibesa Bezo Maimbo (Deputy Administrator C. Plan and ensure sustainable and rational General and Official Receiver at the Ministry of utilization, management and development Justice). of water resources based on community and public needs and priorities and to The rest are; Mr. John Msimuko (Director General of ZEMA), Mr. Nkumbu Siame (Director of Housing D. Provide access to water resources of and Infrastructure Development at the Ministry of acceptance quality for various uses. Local Government and Housing), and Ms. Karen The list of the board members consists of; Chenda Mukuka (Chief Food and Nutrition Officer, Ministry of Agriculture). Dr. Wilson N. M. Mwenya ( Board Chairman and Senior Lecturer of Statistics, UNZA), Dr. In attendance also at the unveiling of the Elenestina Mwape Mutekenya Mwelwa ( Authority’s new Board of Directors were, MWDSEP Vice Board Chairperson and Senior Manager, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mabvuto Sakala, Safety Health Environment & Quality Division at Eng. Kenneth Nyundu, the Authority’s Director ZESCO), Eng. Adam Hussen, His Royal Highness, General, the WARMA Management team and Chief Mwansakombe – Peter Rolland Chungu, various stakeholders. WARMA Consolidates Government Efforts In Fighting Covid-19 s the Authority, the Water Resources Management Authority WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (WARMA) A PUBLIC NOTICE (WARMA) has continued supplementing government’s Dear Client, as we endeavour to restrain the spread of the Corona efforts in curbing the ongoing Virus (Covid-19) pandemic as Corona Virus (COVID-19) instructed by the Ministry of threat by implementing and Health guidelines, WARMA will not attend to clients who are not disseminating life-surviving putting on face masks on its and preventive information to premises. Further, physical its personnel and the general following up of permits will not be allowed, but only through calling public as approved by the the Authority on 0211-251934 or Ministry of Health. 0974- 606 734. The Authority has erected WARMA: ‘ZAMBIA’S WATERS, OUR FUTURE’! sanitizing materials and washing basins at all the entrances Above are some of the Covid-19 awareness and preventive posters which of working places, Covid-19 The Authority has published for both its personnel and the general public. sensitizing notices/ posters have been placed