Kasungu Municipal Council has raised concern over the indiscriminate dumping of waste, particularly disposable diapers, along the banks of Kasungu Dam.
In an interview on Sunday, Kasungu Municipality Mayor Hastings Nyirongo said the council is aware of the problem and has assigned officials to inspect the affected areas to make informed decisions.
“After we visit the place, we might as well consider what the community is suggesting to do,” he said.
Kasungu District Hospital health promotion officer Isaac Mwavuli warned against the use of untreated water, saying consumption of water contaminated with waste can lead to waterborne diseases, including typhoid.
“The tap water is of course treated, but for those using the water directly from the dam
should stop because it is not safe for direct consumption,” he said.
Mthawira Ward councillor Patricia Kabera (Democratic Progressive Party) called on residents to dispose of waste responsibly, especially at a time the district has registered five cholera cases.
“This is sad because the dam is the main source of water we drink,” she said.
A resident Eneless Phiri described the situation as worrisome, noting that those who dump the waste are the same people who draw water from the dam.
“With the rains, all this waste is washed into the water that we drink,” she said.
She appealed to authorities to establish designated disposal sites for diapers within the municipality.
