The Zambia Water Forum and Exhibitions – ZAWAFE will this year 2019 focus its exhibitions on issues to do with water security due to climate change and waste management practices that the country is currently facing.
This year’s ZAWAFE exhibitions is scheduled to take place from 10th to 12th of June 2019 under the theme “The impact of sanitation on water security in sub-saharan Africa – Towards the implementation of sustainable development goals”.
Speaking at a media breakfast in Lusaka on April 25th ,2019 attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZAWAFE Chairperson Professor Imasiku Nyambe said the Sub-Saharan Africa – SSA particularly, Zambia still faces challenges of poor sanitation. Globally, cholera remains endemic to more that 47 countries with an estimated 40-80 Million people in Africa living in cholera hot spots.
He alluded to the challenges of poor sanitation to unsanitary activities like open defecation and poor solid waste disposal hence the need to push forward the agenda of increased access to clean water supply and adequate sanitation for all as envisaged in the Sustainable Development Goal – SDG number 6.
“It is against this background that the 2019 ZAWAFE will focus its attention on exploring the impact of poor sanitation on water resources and the water supply chain,” he said
Professor Nyambe however thanks Government’s for its efforts on the issues of sanitation adding that such gestures will provide solutions to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation in Zambia.
And in a separate interview with ZBT, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water Development Sanitation and Environmental Protection Dr Ed Chomba said unsanitary activities like poor solid waste disposal continue to be the primary source of infection hence the need for all stakeholder to be involved in policy making if development is to be attained.
He however invited companies in the water, sanitation and public health sector and all stakeholders to actively participate in this year’s forum.
