BWB says Water Users Associations frustrating efforts
Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has expressed dissatisfaction with the way Water Users Associations (WUAs)are managing kiosks in semi-urban areas, accusing them of frustrating its effort of supplying potable water to its customers.
Briefing the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation John Bande on Tuesday during a tour to assess the water supply situation in the city amid the cholera outbreak, BWB chief executive officer Robert Hanjahanja said some kiosks have been taken over by landlords who are failing to manage them leading to intermittent water supply in some areas.
He said: “The water user model was introduced to cater for densely populated communities. However, the way they are managing the facilities leaves a lot to be desired.”
During the tour in Ndirande and Makhetha townships, some community members expressed reservations over high water tariffs, saying they impede access to potable water.
But Bande, while commending BWB for maintaining the water quality, stressed the need for stakeholders to work together in sensitising the community to change their mindset and embrace piped water.
He said: “I have seen that BWB is dedicated to providing quality water in the city. Those that are being infected with cholera it’s because they are drinking unsafe water from other sources.
“So now we know that it’s a question of civic educating the people to use safe drinking water from BWB sources.”
As one way of fighting the cholera outbreak in Blantyre City and surrounding areas, BWB in September 2022 suspended settlement of arrears for all the 432 kiosks on prepaid metering systems totalling K82 million.
The board further provided an overdraft of K2 million to 19 kiosks for Mudi WUA that were non-functional due to lack of money to buy tokens.
The country has since the onset of the outbreak in March 2022 recorded 25 458 cases and 841 deaths, respectively.
