The newly formed Mwansabombwe District in Luapula Province has been hit by a critical water shortage.
The problem has been caused by the breakdown of the only water pump in the district.
This has forced residents to draw water in the Ngona River, which is far from the residential area.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Mwansabombwe District Commissioner Victor Kasuba said the water crisis at the district headquarters was worrying.
Mr Kasuba said the situation was even more worrying because the river from which the residents were drawing water, was contaminated with human and animal waste.
He said if the water system was not worked on immediately, the situation may lead to an outbreak of water borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea especially in children.
He said the matter has already been reported to the provincial administration which has not responded yet.
The District Commissioner appealed to all stakeholders to work together to resolve the problem before a disease broke out.
Mr Kasuba said while the council was working on the pump, there was also need to work on the leaking water leaking tank.
Meanwhile, Reformed Church in Zambia Moderator Edwin Zulu has commended Government for its unwavering support towards addressing the plight of the people.
Dr Zulu said the church is happy that Government had taken an active role in providing safe and clean water to Zambian communities.
He was speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Katete between the Reformed Church in Zambia and Eastern Water and Sewerage Company for the construction of a dam.
Dr Zulu said the Church had a social role to play in society apart from evangelising.
He said the Church could not sit and ignore the challenges society was faced with, such as inadequate water supply, which had affected Katete for a long time.
He said for more than 100 years, the Reformed Church in Zambia had remained committed to partnering with Government in various sectors of the economy aimed at improving the lives of Zambians. – ZANIS