Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company Board of Directors retains full andeffective control of the water utility and monitors the Executive Management Team.The Board is also responsible for direction, policies and strategies. It also ensures thatthe water utility meets its responsibilities towards all its stakeholders and that theCompany is prudently managed against the major risks inherent in the water andsanitation sector.
Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company (NWSC) was incorporated in 1998 under the Companies Act Chapter 388 of the Laws of Zambia (Amended as Act No, 10 of 2017) pursuant to Section 9 of the Water Supply and Sanitation Act No. 28 of 1997.
The Company was incorporated to provide water and sanitation services in the urban and peri-urban areas of Kitwe and Kalulushi, with the local authorities being the shareholders. Commencing operations in 2000, NWSC was incorporated in 1999 under the Water Supply and Sanitation Act No. 28 of May 1997 to provide water and sanitation services in the urban and peri-urban areas of Kitwe and Kalulushi. NWSC is jointly owned by Kitwe City Council and Kalulushi Municipal Council. The mandate now extends to include service provision to Lufwanyama District. NWSC currently operates five water treatment plants and maintains approximately 72,963 water customer connections.
Strategic Directions and Priorities
In the next five years, NWSC will focus on the strategic theme: “Pursuing excellence in the water and sanitation sector through innovation and enhanced commercial viability”. This entails working within five priority areas reflecting: a) Increased revenue generation; b) Improved Information Technology infrastructure; c) Enhanced customer and stakeholder focus; d) Growth in infrastructure and coverage; and e) Improved organisational effectiveness and efficiency to assure long-term sustainability. Therefore, the NWSC Vision and Mission is being delivered through a transformation agenda aligned to the following strategic goals in the next five years: The 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan has five key strategic directions:
1. Increased revenue generation and enhanced cash flow management to assure commercial viability.
2. Improved infrastructure through regular maintenance and upgrades for enhanced service provision.
3. Enhanced customer focus and stakeholder engagement.
4. Develop new infrastructure for products and services for new customers
5. Improving organisational effectiveness and efficiency through continuous innovation to assure sustainability.
NWSC’s core functions are:
1. To abstract water from various water sources
2. To treat the water to meet Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) specifications for drinking water
3. To deliver the treated water to houses, industries and other users
4. To collect and treat wastewater by stabilising all pollutants to Zambia Environmental Management Agency [ZEMA] standards
5. To return treated wastewater to the aquatic environment
Vision
To be a symbol of excellence in the provision of quality water and sanitation services
Mission
To provide quality water and sanitation services innovatively and sustainably on the Copperbelt, Zambia
Values
As we make decisions, work and interact with all stakeholders, our actions will reflect Customers-First, Innovativeness, Teamwork, Integrity, Transparency, Excellence and Commitment (“CITITEC”) as our guiding values.
Customers-First: We put the customer’s needs first and endeavour to commercially meet them
Innovativeness: We encourage and recognise innovation and initiatives in finding solutions to our challenges
Teamwork: We value team-working attitudes that create value for all stakeholders
Integrity: We are always honest and ensure consistent and uncompromising adherence to our principles
Transparency: We are transparent, accountable and ethical with all stakeholders
Institutional Structure of NWSC
NWSC has a well-defined governance structure to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Company. The policy-making body for NWSC is the Board of Directors which delegates its authority to Management. The Management Team is headed by the Managing Director who is charged with the responsibility of running the day-to-day functions of the organisation. The wider institutional framework also incorporates a national regulator called the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) which is responsible for regulation, issuing licenses and minimum service standards. The regulator also ensures that the operator complies with license terms and minimum Service Level Agreements as well as Guarantees.
The Board of Directors
The Board is responsible for the general oversight of the management of the institution. Its main function is to maintain an effective system for internal controls that enhances effective and efficient operations of the organization. It also ensures that the organization responds to strategic issues in the environment. NWSC has a unitary board structure that separates the position and role of the Company CEO from that of the Board Chairperson. The Utility Board is composed of executive directors and eight non-executive directors. Non-Executive Directors are appointed by the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation (MWDS) and they serve for three-year terms.
The NWSC’s Board is integral in visualizing and developing the strategies, policies, and projects that make NWSC a successful organization. It exercises oversight over the executive management team in matters relating to the governance of the Company. The Board of Directors meets once quarterly to execute its functions effectively as recommended by corporate governance codes of best practice. The Board is comprised of 8 members appointed by the Minister of Water Development and Sanitation:
1. One Town Clerk/Council Secretary from any participating Councils nominated by fellow Town Clerks/Council Secretaries.
2. The Ministry of Local Government is represented by the Provincial Local Government Officer/ Representative of the Provincial Local Government Officer within the jurisdiction of the CU.
3. One member representing the Ministry responsible for water and sanitation.
4. One member representing the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ)
5. One representative from either the Economics Association of Zambia or the Bankers Association of Zambia or Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
6. One member representing ZICA drawn from within the area of operation.
7. Two members are appointed by the Minister of Water and Sanitation: one from the fields of engineering, business, human resources, or law, and the other a respected community member from within the Company’s jurisdiction.
The Board comprises four [4] Sub-Committees namely: Finance and Legal Committee; Operations Committee; Human Resources Committee; Audit Committee. The Committees undertake detailed analyses and scrutiny of any relevant matters and thereafter recommends them to the Board for action. In addition, the Board ensures that the organization responds to strategic issues in the environment. NWSC has a unitary board structure that separates the position and role of the Company CEO from that of the Board Chairperson. The Utility Board is composed of executive directors and eight non-executive directors. Non-Executive Directors are appointed by the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation (MWDS) and they serve for three-year terms.
Management, Departments and Staff
The Senior Management Team of NWSC draws its strength from the diversity and unique gifts and contributions of its employees and the senior management team. Senior Management comprises the Managing Director, Directors, Company Secretary and Managers. The main directorates and departments are:
1. Engineering – responsible for water production, abstraction, treatment, distribution as well as infrastructure, mobile and running equipment maintenance
2. Infrastructure Development- responsible for the development of infrastructure through implementation of capital projects and also provides support for the mobilisation of project Finance
3. Human Resources and Administration - responsible for efficient and effective utilisation of human resources and provision of administration services to contribute to the achievement of corporate objectives
4. Finance – responsible for planning for the Company’s financial resource requirements as well as effective, efficient, and economic application of the resources for the achievement of the Company’s long-term objectives. It is the role of the department to provide accurate and timely information for management decision making and to advise management on the financial performance of the Company
5. Legal –The Company Secretary is the link between Management and the Board of Directors in ensuring that decisions of the board are implemented and keeps the board members informed of their legal responsibilities. The Company Secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of the Company in terms of ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
6. Director Operations – responsible for the collection of revenue as well as Customer Service Management
7. Internal Audit - Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, internal controls and governance processes
Units
1.Public Relations – Responsible for Corporate Affairs, branding, information dissemination and promoting the external and internal image of the institution
2. Information Technology and Billing - responsible for the management of Company communication and information systems and billing
3. Procurement – responsible for purchasing of all Company goods and services and management of Inventory
NWSC has 685 established positions and to promote efficiency and places focus on rewarding staff performance and building capacity. NWSC has an organisational structure in place. The structure will be modified in line with the new transformation agenda. The organogram is still evolving but has a hybrid structure that combines divisional and functional types to carry out its operations, processes and activities.
