The current drought continues to affect villagers who rely on rivers and boreholes for their daily water supply needs. 

This is the same situation for residents in Konga Bayenda village in the Lusese area.

One of the residents, 95-year-old Greenwell Mayumbelo, who lived there for years, said the drought has caused a water shortage and is asking the government to assist them.

Mayumbelo said the distance to the nearest water point is another challenge.

"I have health issues regarding my legs and feet; therefore, I'm unable to walk, and even if I weren't ill, it would be impossible to walk 10 kilometres to fetch water daily. That is why we are asking the government to assist."

Residents explained that the water scarcity has also affected boarding learners at schools such as Lusese as well as the clinic.

The councillor for Kabbe South constituency, John Likando, pointed out that delayed projects such as the Bukalo-Muyako-Ngoma pipeline could have reduced the impact.

Likando said the environmental impact assessment that is yet to be done is negatively impacting residents in Kabbe North, Kabbe South, and Katima Mulilo Rural constituencies. 

"It's affecting communities along the Ngoma line because we cannot provide them with boreholes, awaiting the project to continue, and you are aware that part of Ngoma, including the other side, is part of Kabbe south. People are really bitter because the water is salty, so the non-starting of the Ngoma pipeline is affecting thousands of communities along the three constituencies."

Likando stated that although funds have been made available to provide water to the residents, the responsible ministry has not done its part and has asked that they do so.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform's Public Relations Officer, Jona Musheko, said most of the environmental impact assessments for projects currently funded by the African Development Bank are being concluded and thereafter will proceed with the actual work on the ground, not only for the Zambezi Region.