Newton Sibanda
July 13, 2011
ZAMBIA’s premier telecommunications company, ZAMTEL has launched a K2billion water project in which 36 boreholes will be sunk across the country.
Hans Paulsen, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer says the ‘Water for Life’ programme is aimed at giving disadvantaged communities access to clean water.

Paulsen said in Mumbwa, a rural town about 150 km west of the capital Lusaka, during the launch of the initiative that the programme was one of the corporate social responsibility activities Zamtel has embarked on.
“The K2 billion is just for the first phase of the ‘Water for Life’ programme. Other co-operating partners are coming on board to ensure communities have access to clean drinking water,” Paulsen said.

He noted that clean drinking water is an essential commodity that can improve the health of many Zambians.
Paulsen said Zamtel values the health of the Zambian communities, hence the launch of the programme.
“This investment is about doing something that directly benefits the community,” he said.
Zamtel, which was privatized last year, is the only fixed line company in Zambia and also has a mobile phone business unit.
And Huawei Technologies Zambia country director Richard Chan donated US$10,000 towards the water programme on behalf of his company.
Chan said his company is committed to ensuring that Zambian communities have clean drinking water.
“We shall continue partnering with Zamtel to make Zambia a better place,” he said.