Improving Access to Water in the Southern Province

November 2025

10 buckets. 

That’s how many buckets of water John Munsaka draws each day from the local water pump in Simanansa, Batoka. Every morning, he joins long queues, filling the heavy 20-litre buckets and carrying them home to store in a large drum for their daily use. With his wife unwell and unable to assist, this responsibility falls entirely on him, one that takes both time and physical effort on his ageing body.

‍

But, Mr John is very happy to hear that we are from WATER FOR WATER (WfW), as he has just applied for a household water connection using the subsidised connection fee programme.

“I want to have water at my doorstep rather than coming to draw water here every day”, he shared. It is quite a distance, and there are usually many people here. The other motivating factor is the price, which is very good at 250 Kwacha”.

We walked the journey with Mr. John - each of us carrying buckets along the same path he takes every day. The weight, even over a short distance, underscored the reality that many households in Simanansa, and in larger Batoka, face daily.

‍

‍

Supporting our local water utilities

Since 2023, our Water Supply that Lasts team has been working in partnership with Southern Water and Sanitation Company (SWSC) to improve access to safe and reliable water in communities such as Simanansa. This has included the rehabilitation and construction of boreholes and water storage, support for new household connections, and upgrading and transitioning communities to a more reliable water network with the new system.

Equally important has been strengthening the customer service system. With additional support from WfW, SWSC is now better equipped to respond to issues such as leaks, service disruptions and maintenance needs in Batoka and Pemba, and this has ensured that the changes made are not temporary but sustained. 

Team members such as Joseph Nyakawere play a major role on the ground to coordinate these efforts - from tracking applications, supporting community engagement, and ensuring that reported issues are addressed efficiently - he ensures that the Project Task Teams quickly identify faults and respond in a timely manner, improving overall service reliability for customers.

Partnerships which amplify impact

Working in partnership with GWF, a leading tech company specialised in water and energy flow measurement, processes have been easier to manage even when we are not on the ground in the Southern Province. Eng. Kameya Kashweka, WStL Programme Manager, explained the ease with which they can now pinpoint faults and leakages with the new system which has been installed in Pemba, and this has, in turn, assisted Joseph and the pump Station Managers to address any customer complaints which may arise. 

‍

Community support

For other residents in Simanansa (Batoka) such as Ernest Chisowa, these improvements are already being felt. He notes that since the interventions began from WfW and SWSC, the water supply has been more consistent, with longer hours of availability, fewer disruptions, and quicker resolution of complaints.

But Mr Ernest is thinking beyond his household. With an additional tap installed outside his fence, he allows his elderly neighbour to draw water from his connection, ensuring that her family can also benefit from the improved access. He hopes that more members of the community will take advantage of the subsidised connection programme, making water access a reality for more households.

As we continue to expand the water network in Batoka to areas such as Tuswangane over the next few years, more families like Mr. John’s and Ernest’s will have the opportunity to move away from toilsome trips to collect water towards safe, reliable water at home.

And no more 10 buckets a day for Mr John.

‍

Editor's Note:
Since the article was written, both Mr. John Munsaka and Mr .Chisowa's elderly neighbour were connected to the SWSC water supply network through support from WfW Zambia staff.