Zambia in a US$ 355 million US 5-year grant.

By John Chola Lusaka - March 23, 2012 If truly the PF government would translate its "immune" to corruption statements into ensuring prudence and commitment to developmental projects, then the wide spread inaccess to clean water and sanitation as well as the sturbon flooding that most Lusaka residents have come to know as the nomal way of living would soon be a thing of the past. This follows the announcement yesterday by the United States government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to give Zambia a US$ 355 million Compact grant translating into K1.9 trillion at the current prevailing exchange rate. The MCC Board of Directors chaired by U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the announcement yesterday and immediately communicated the decision to the Zambian government.US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella said the money was being given as a grant to lay the foundation for systemic and lasting change in Lusaka's water, sanitation and dranage system. And speaking when he announced the awarding of the grant, MCC Chief Executive Officer Daniel Yohannes said, "We congratulate the Zambian people and the government. MCC investments are expected to have a meaningful impact on the lives of more than one million Lusaka residents by improving their health and economic productivity and helping the country reduce poverty on a sustainable basis by enhancing water security." Ambassador Storella emphasised that relable water and sanitation and drainage systes were a vital components for sustainable development hence the grant given. With this high ammount of non repayable green backs granted to Zambia, the country would now be able to increase Lusaka's overal water supply, extend and provide city residents greater access to water and better water supply, sanitation and drainage services. Zambia does not also have to worry if it lacks technical capacity in improving citizen's access to clean running water, sanitation and state of the art drainage system as the Compact also comes with free technical assistance to deepen government-led sector reforms. The US government is especially intrested in seeing that the PF government ensures not the already privillaged communities but more women and the vulnerable populations benefit from its projecct investments. The MCC had been rendering constant support to Zambia for the past two years especially through the Ministry of Finance and National Planing to help the country meet stringent MCC Compact eligibility requirements. The US$355 million is under the five-year Compact agreement with Zambia. Ends...