By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Seventeen people have been arrested and penalties of K34,000 recovered in an operation to curb illegal water and sanitation connections by Mulonga Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (MWSC).
MWSC has been losing colossal sums of money through illegal connections to water and sanitation services depriving the Company of the much-needed resources to provide services.
MWSC Communications Manager Bright Mtonga confirmed the arrests and the recovery of the amount and said that the operation was on going to curb the increased illegal activities.
He said that the Company’s security team was following up on the reports from the public and inspection team on suspected illegal connections and so far, a number had been unearthed and prosecution process instituted.
“This is a tip of the ice burg, a lot of people are involved in the theft of water and sanitation services, we have intensified inspection and anyone found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with the Water Supply and Sanitation Act number 28 of 1997,” he said.
He said that the cases were being dealt with in accordance with the law through the courts and those found guilty will either pay the prescribed penalties, be jailed or both as stipulated in the Water Supply and Sanitation Act.
Mr. Mtonga said it was unfortunate that these cases were very rampant and robbing the institution of the much-needed revenue to provide sustainable services across the service areas.
“We are a commercial utility which depend on generated revenue to sustain our operations. Illegal connections, vandalism and thefts are a major drawback so we will not relent until all culprits are brought to book,” he said.
