The Lomahasha/Namaacha (LoNa) cross-border drinking water supply project has been launched. The project is a significant initiative aimed at improving access to clean water for over 40,000 people in the border towns of Lomahasha in Eswatini and Namaacha in Mozambique.
The project involves constructing new infrastructure to harness water from the Mbuluzi River, which originates in Eswatini and flows into Mozambique. The plan includes building new pumping stations, reservoirs, and a drinking water treatment plant. The treated water will then be distributed to the target population through bulk water distribution points.
READ:Aker Solutions wins extension EPC contract offshore Angola
LoNa project
This project is the second of its kind under the SADC Regional Fund for Water Infrastructure and Basic Sanitation, emphasizing the importance of secure water access for a resilient, peaceful, and prosperous Southern Africa. The initiative is a crucial step towards ensuring water security and supporting sustainable development in the region.
The LoNa project will be receiving a substantial financial backing from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) amounting to US $17M. It will meet objectives in addressing the chronic water shortages in the border towns caused by climate change, which currently forces residents to fetch water from 34 kilometers away, enhance the resilience of the local communities to the impacts of climate change through reliable access to clean water and also foster closer ties and economic growth through shared infrastructure projects, thus promoting regional integration.
