Investing in Safe Water for All
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — (18-03-2026) --- WaterAid Zambia, the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO), and partners emphasize that translating policies into real action and increasing investments are critical to ensure safe and equitable access to water and sanitation services, particularly in rural communities and healthcare facilities.
The organizations marked World Water Day with a panel discussion at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel under the theme “Gender and Water.”
The event focused on fostering inclusive leadership, promoting gender equality, and highlighting the critical role women play in shaping sustainable water and sanitation solutions.
Yakho Mataya, Country Director for WaterAid Zambia, highlighted a gap between high-level political commitments and actual improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
He said increased investment is needed to ensure tangible benefits reach communities that need them most.
Mataya said, “Despite government efforts to improve access to water and sanitation, the sector still requires more women leaders, as they are the most affected by gaps in service delivery.
The Time to Deliver campaign is pushing for safe deliveries in healthcare facilities, particularly in rural areas, where reliable water and hygiene are critical to maternal and community health.”
He added, “Water and sanitation services are closely tied to quality education, healthy communities, and functioning healthcare systems.
Access to clean water is a key determinant of maternal health. For example, sepsis—caused by inadequate hygiene—is a leading contributor to maternal deaths.
Our commitment is to improve access to water and hygiene for every delivery and encourage actionable steps that drive real change.”
Angel Phiri, Communications Officer for WaterAid Zambia, called on the government to prioritize WASH improvements in healthcare facilities by increasing budget allocations and ensuring free access to clean water in public health centers.
Phiri emphasized, “These measures must be accompanied by tangible actions to address the existing shortcomings in WASH services, especially in healthcare settings, where clean water and proper sanitation directly impact maternal and child health outcomes.”
He noted that women often bear the responsibility of caring for family members and managing household water resources.
Chitumbo said, “Despite progress in expanding water and sanitation services, women remain the primary managers of household water.
It is critical to ensure that women are represented in leadership roles and decision-making structures within the sector.”
He added, “This panel is more than a discussion; it is a platform to guide inclusive leadership, strengthen national programs, and ensure women’s perspectives are integrated into decision-making.
Stakeholders should identify and address structural barriers that limit women’s participation in water sector governance.”
Water Engineer Dr. Selenia Mbewe of NWASCO shared that the government has launched several initiatives to boost women’s participation in decision‑making, particularly in WASH sectors.
These include the WASH Technical Working Group, WASH Emergency Response Teams, and a parliamentary initiative on wastewater sanitation in public institutions.
Eng. Mbewe said, “The Time to Deliver campaign is pushing for safe deliveries in healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas.
The Ministry of Technology and Science is promoting WASH skills advancement for women and youth and conducting gender analyses to ensure funded projects benefit diverse groups, such as the upcoming 2024 Gender Audit.
These initiatives demonstrate government commitment to increasing women’s leadership and ensuring equitable access to WASH services.”
The event brought together regulators, utility companies, and key sector stakeholders to share insights, build leadership capacity, and design strategies that enhance gender equality in water and sanitation management.
NWASCO and WaterAid Zambia hope the panel discussion will inspire actionable commitments to promote women leaders and improve WASH services, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
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