K2bn Mzimba water project excites people

People in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mabulabo in Mzimba District have expressed excitement with the K2 billion solar-powered water schemes constructed under the World Bank-funded Malawi Resilience and Disaster Risk Management Project.

They said this on Friday when Ministry of Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Elias Chimulambe toured Msaka and Champhira water supply schemes in the area.

In an interview, Salome Gausi, from Jamu Village, said they have started accessing potable water, courtesy of the project.

“We used to wake up early to fetch water from unprotected sources,” she said.

Another community member, Lilian Moyo from group village head Germany Nthara said some husbands suspected their wives of engaging in extramarital affairs when they took long to return home from fetching water.

“With water taps within reach, there will be peace in our homes,” she said.

On his part, Chimulambe said although the water schemes are at 90 percent completion rate, the communities have already started using the facilities as they wait the official commissioning on May 30 2024.

He said: “The water schemes are set to serve a population of over 89 000 people. Champhira scheme will cater for 80 000 people while Msaka has a capacity to serve 9 000 people.

“The schemes will benefit people from T/A Mabulabo in Mzimba South and part of T/A Simulemba in Kasungu District.”

Mzimba South Water Users Association chairperson Speck Chiumia said potable water will promote hygiene practices in the district.

“We, however, appeal to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation to train us on how to manage the facilities,” he said.

Chiumia urged communities to take care of the facilities and formulate by-laws to enforce discipline.