Committee whips Lilongwe City poor sanitation

The Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change has ordered Lilongwe City Council and Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (Mepa) to close the Lilongwe waste dumping site and enforce sanitation and hygiene in all markets.

The committee yesterday inspected Lilongwe Flea Market where it found poor sanitation which could contribute to cholera spread.

Chairperson Welani Chilenga feared that people in the market risk contracting cholera due to poor sanitation.

He urged the council to ensure that the market is properly cleaned every day and it has enough water points and toilets.

Said Chilenga: “For a start, the council should construct 20 toilets for the flea market.

“We have inspected Lilongwe Flea Market but these problems are almost in all markets. So, all councils should promote hygiene in their markets. Markets should have toilets and water and should be clean at all times.”

At the flea market, the committee found that waste was being dumped anyhow within the facility and on river banks close to people.

The market has only two toilets against a population of about 10 000, inadequate water points, and a poor drainage system which sees sewage spillage flowing into the facility.

The committee also inspected Lilongwe dumping site and observed  that it was a health hazard to communities surrounding it. Companies hired to collect waste in the city dump it along the road and the site is flooded with flies.

The committee ordered closure of the dumping site and called on the council to identify a new dumping site within two weeks.

Chilenga said if there is need of funding, the council should submit the budget before the budget sitting of Parliament

He emphasised that Mepa and councils should promote good waste management and sanitation in public places to protect Malawians.

Department of Environmental Affairs deputy director Benon Yasin said Mepa will work with the council to look into issues that the committee has raised.

Lilongwe City mayor Richard Banda admitted that there are serious sanitation problems in the market, adding that almost all the markets are facing similar challenges.

He said the council will look into the issues but also ask the government for funding.

Cholera has so far claimed over 750 lives and affected thousands others.

Recently government stopped the opening of schools in Lilongwe and Blantyre where cases are high