NEWTON SIBANDA
23 January 2018
LUSAKA, Zambia-In an effort to highlight the business case for prudent management of water resources by companies, the Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI) has established Zambia National Water Stewardship Award.
The award, which was launched at Fringilla Lodge in Chisamba, a farming district about 50 km north of Lusaka late January this year, is intended to promote, incentivise and recognize good corporate water stewardship amongst water using companies in Zambia.
And speaking at the launch of the award, Water Resources management Authority (WARMA) Acting Director General Lemmy Namayanga noted that Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka was facing significant water challenges which require a proactive stance to address them.
“In the last few months, we have all experienced water challenges in one way or another. These challenges can worsen if we don’t take a proactive stance to address them,” Mr Namayanga said.
“Sound water management goes hand in hand with doing business properly. It is for this reason that I am excited to introduce and launch the 2018 Zambia Water Stewardship Award today,” he said.
Mr Namayanga commended Fairy Bottling for pioneering the AWS standard in Lusaka.
“Such effort is inspiring and a best practice to be celebrated and followed by others,” he said. “I invite the private sector to further assume the role of responsible water stewards.”
Fairy Bottling Acting Public Relations Manager Caroline Banda stressed the business case for water stewardship.
“Companies are beginning to appreciate that water is an important resource for their business. There is need for a paradigm shift in the way companies look at water resource management,” she said.
Robin Farrington, the German Development Co-operation (GIZ) “International Water Stewardship Programme” Country Co-ordinator summed up: “Water stewardship is going to be absolutely necessary. In Cape Town, it is no longer a voluntary option but a necessity.”
The award is hosted by the Zambian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) and will be awarded on an annual basis starting in November this year to leading companies that demonstrate sustainable water use in line with international best practice.
Judging criteria for the award will be based on the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standard, and a panel of judges will be appointed from government, industry and civil society.
The award is a project within the LuWSI, managed by a project task team led by Action for Water.
As part of the LuWSI, Action for Water, Fairy Bottling, AWS and Water Witness International are hosting the Zambia Water Stewardship Masterclass from 22-24 January 2018.
This landmark event is a catalyst for improved collaboration between business, government and civil society to improve water security in Zambia and the region. It has brought leading experts on water stewardship together with business leaders and practitioners to learn how water can be better managed to secure inclusive economic growth, and the role of stewardship in business strategy and operations, through application of the AWS Standard.
