Mulanje community leaders make peace with BWB

Blantyre Water Board (BWB) can now breathe a sigh of relief as community leaders in Mulanje have pledged to support the Likhubula Water Supply System Project carried out by the board in the district, putting a rest to conflicts which surrounded the project.

Speaking in Mulanje on Wednesday during the launch of a tree planting competition in Mulanje Mountain,  Chambe Dam and Likhubula River catchment areas, the community leaders hailed the board for fulfilling its promise to restore vegetation in the mountain and catchment areas a thing which they said would ensure continuous flow of water and sustainability of the project..

However, member of Parliament (MP) for Mulanje South Bon Kalindo also asked the board to withdraw a case against ten members of Citizens for the Protection of Mulanje Mountain (CPM) who were arrested about a month ago for allegedly blocking BWB technicians from working on the project.

But BWB board chairperson James Naphambo declined to comment on the matter saying it was now a court issue.

Police fired tear gas to disperse the angry people and arrested the ten including chairperson of the grouping, David Majeweta and its general secretary Ivory Kaliati.

The arrest prompted scores of sympathisers of the arrested people to storm Mulanje Police Station to demand the release of their relations who were only released on court bail few days later.

The 20-month $23 million (K18 billion) project which aims at ending water challenges in Blantyre and surrounding areas started last December after failing to start off two times due to sabotage from the said members of the community.

Kalindo said now that BWB has shown commitment to fulfilling its promise of restoring vegetation in the mountain, the community has no case against the board and that the wrangle was over.

“I am happy that BWB is fulfilling its promises, and the peace between the two sides has now vindicated me as I have been accused of sponsoring those who were trying to cause conflicts in regard to the implementation of project. What the communities wanted was a true commitment that their treasures which are Mulanje Mountain and all its water sources are preserved.

But for both sides to be on the same page and concentrate on the project there is need that the court case be withdrawn,”  said Kalindo while emphasising that the board cannot be blamed for any loss of trees in the mountain but the communities themselves.

Concurring with Kalindo, Senior Chief Nkando of the district called on villagers to support the project saying they also stand to benefit through various means including corporate social responsibilities.

Councilor Samsom Makwinja of Chambe Ward attributed loss of trees in Mulanje Mountain to charcoal business and called on well wishers including the board to economically empower people of surrounding villages so that they engage in environmental friendly businesses.

District Commissioner for Mulanje Charles Makanga hailed BWB for working towards restoring vegetation on the mountain which he described as a treasure.

According to BWB board chairperson planting trees was one of the conditions in the memorandum of understand that the board signed with the communities and it also pledged to take care of Chambe Dam, provide clean water to the communities and carry out other corporate social responsibilities.

He said so far the board has planted over 20 000 pine trees with the involvement of the full district council which include MPs, councilors, chiefs, Area Development Committee members and Village Development Committee members.

“Initially, the board was planning to plant 300 000 trees in ten years but looking at the need, we decided to do it in three years so each year our target is to plant 100 000 trees,” explained Naphambo.

Director of water resources in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Modester Kanjaye commended the community leaders for supporting the project.

She called on the village to avoid wanton cutting down of trees saying they are crucial in ensuring good rains, controlling soil erosion, siltation and floods.

“In place of cutting down trees for charcoal, businesses communities can come together and open businesses such as producing pineapple juice and bee keeping,” she said.

Through the competition, BWB will incorporate communities in the afforestation program by giving out tree seedlings to clubs and schools and at the end they will be awarded according to survival rate of the trees.

The winning school will get 50 desks, 1 000 pens and 1 000 exercise books while  K300 000 will be given out to the winning club.