Government Begins Consultations on Ninth National Development Plan for Water Sector 

By Alain kabinda   

Lusaka, Zambia – The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation has launched stakeholder consultations to identify priority interventions for the development of the Ninth National Development Plan (9NDP) for the period 2027–2031, with a renewed focus on improving water security, sanitation, and climate resilience. 

Speaking during the opening of the Stakeholder Consultative Meeting, Permanent Secretary Eng Romas Kamanga said the consultative process provides a critical opportunity to shape the future of Zambia's water sector as the implementation of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) comes to an end.

                                      (PS. Eng. Romas Kamanga)

 Eng. Kamanga said that this 9NDP will guide the sector's response to emerging challenges, including rapid urbanisation, climate change, population growth, increasing demand for water, environmental degradation, and financing constraints. 

"The decisions we make today will shape the direction of the sector over the next five years and contribute significantly towards the attainment of Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6, and Zambia's broader socio-economic transformation," said Eng. Kamanga. 

Eng. Kamanga further highlighted progress made under the 8NDP, including the expansion of water supply infrastructure, rehabilitation of existing systems, construction and rehabilitation of dams and boreholes, improvements in sanitation services, and strengthened water resources management. He also cited the development of the 2024 National Water Policy and the ongoing review of key sector legislation as important reforms aimed at improving governance and sustainability. 

Eng. Kamanga also acknowledged that significant challenges remain, particularly in improving access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation in rural and peri-urban communities. 

Eng. Kamanga noted, continue to face ageing infrastructure, high levels of non-revenue water, inadequate financing, rising operational costs, and increasing demand for services. Climate change, pollution, and degradation of water resources were also identified as growing threats to the country's long-term water security.

 Further Eng. Kamanga called on stakeholders to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations that will inform the priorities of the 9NDP. Key areas identified for discussion include expanding access to water supply, sanitation and hygiene services, strengthening integrated water resources management, improving climate resilience, enhancing the financial sustainability of Commercial Water Utilities, reducing non-revenue water, modernising infrastructure, promoting digital transformation, strengthening sector governance, and expanding partnerships with the private sector and cooperating partners. 

Eng. Kamanga stressed that the success of the Ninth National Development Plan would depend on collaboration among Government institutions, cooperating partners, local authorities, Commercial Water Utilities, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector, traditional leaders, and communities. 

The stakeholder consultation is expected to generate recommendations that will guide the formulation of the 2027–2031 National Development Plan for the water sector, with the overarching objective of improving service delivery, protecting water resources, and supporting Zambia's sustainable socio-economic development.

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