LUANSHYA, Zambia Aug. 26 -- A Chinese firm, China National Complete Engineering Corporation (CNCEC), has been awarded a contract to build two over-head tanks to improve water reticulation system in Zambia's Luanshya town on the Copperbelt Province, a civic leader said on Monday.

Eugene Chuhuba, a ward councilor said that the Chinese firm has been contracted to help improve water reticulation system in some parts of the town.

Chuhuba said in an interview that the Chinese firm is going to construct two tanks of water in the area.

CNCEC is a Chinese company that is constructing the Kafulafuta water supply system dam in Masaiti district at a cost of about 450 million U.S. dollars. The Masaiti dam will supply water to four districts in the Copperbelt province.

"For a long time people of Kamirenda had no access to clean water, but I am happy that a Chinese company is going to construct two over-head tanks of water to improve water reticulation system in the township which experienced erratic water supply," he said.

Chuhuba said in the past people depended on water from shallow wells, adding that this was posing a health hazard to the residents in the township.

He appealed to the locals to cooperate with the Chinese firm that would soon be on the ground to commence works on the project.