Ministry to resume rehab works on 2 water schemes

Ministry of Water and Sanitation principal water engineer John Chingawale says they will resume rehabilitation works of Champhira and Msaka water schemes in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mabulabo in Mzimba District.

Speaking on Friday after briefing Mzimba District Executive Committee, he said they have received money from the World Bank to complete the projects.

Chingawale said the projects falls under the Malawi Resilience and Disaster Risk Management Programme.

He said the ministry launched the projects in 2020 to the tune of K650 million, but the contractor allegedly did shoddy works and abandoned the projects due to contractual disagreements.

“We have received money from the World Bank to complete the project and the cost will be determined after a proper study by a consultant,” said Chingawale.

He said they expect the project to be completed within 120 days and called on the council to monitor the project to ensure it is completed on time.

M’Mbelwa District Council director of planning and development Walter Chikuni said the projects are important because people are struggling to access potable water in the area.

“We ask the ministry to speed up construction works to help communities access potable water,” he said.

Isaiah Soko, a community member from the area, commended the ministry for considering to resume rehabilitation works.

He said: “In the wake of cholera in neighbouring Nkhata Bay District, it will be important to enhance personal hygiene and access to clean water should be a priority.

“I appeal to fellow community members not to vandalise the facilities once the rehabilitation works are completed.”

Another community member, Tiwonge Banda, said women travel long distances to fetch water. 

“We do not want to spend more time on the road in search  of water,” she said.

The project is expected to install piped water to the area to benefit about 18 000 people.

The projects will involve the construction of water storage reservoir, solar-powered boreholes, treatment units and pipelines.