K7.5 billion water project implementation extended
Peace Parks Foundation says commissioning of the Thazima Gravity Piped Water Supply Scheme designed to supply water around Nyika National Park and Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve has been extended and is expected within the next three months.
Speaking when he inspected the project’s progress on Thursday, Peace Parks Foundation chief executive officer Werner Myburgh said the scheme is “a little behind schedule” but challenges were expected considering its scale.
He said the most important part is that the project provides a direct link between protected natural areas, saying the scheme is a concrete way to use the water provided by Nyika National Park.
Myburgh said: “As long as it well maintained, this is a system that will deliver water for a long time. One of the big challenges that we face is fire. If that is not controlled, we will lose the natural pits.
“We need everyone’s cooperation to protect the park which is the water source.”
National Parks and Wildlife director Brighton Kumchedwa said there has been progress although the project has failed to meet the set deadline of the month end of June.
“What we want is to have a realistic adjustment to the deadline for completion so that we do not keep on extending,” he said.
The scheme is designed to provide 2.5 million litres of water a day. Construction started on April 20 2023, and is expected to end by June 2024. Water flow from Runyina River in Nyika along a 95-kilometre line will be aided by gravity to reduce energy requirements and maintenance costs.
The project is under the Peace Parks Foundation, which is responsible for fund management and implementation of the Malawi-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area Project.
The $4.4 million (about K7.5 billion) project will cover 18 000 people by 2024 and 33 000 people by 2044 within the five kilometres of the Nyika/Vwaza conservation area. It encompasses areas in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chikulamayembe in Rumphi and T/A Mpherembe in Mzimba District.
