NGO embarks on K85m water project in Dedza

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Welthungerhilfe says it plans to install a solar-powered water supply system to connect 11 villages in Senior Chief Kachindamoto in Dedza District with piped water.

The organisation’s project coordinator Khumbo Munthali said this on Wednesday during a media tour of the area.

He said: “Through this initiative, we join the rest of the world in commemorating World Water Day which falls on March 22.

“This is one way to ensure communities have access to potable water close to their homes.”

Munthali said they embarked on the project following a request from community members that most boreholes in the area were producing salty water.

“Having noticed that we were providing similar services to communities in Traditional Authority Chauma in Lilongwe, they wrote us requesting the same services. We then did a survey to see where we can tap fresh water from,” he said

Munthali said they will install five kiosks, including one at Nsungo Primary School.

Ida Bernard, a community member, commended the organisation for the intervention.

“Most of the boreholes in the area produce salty water, which forces women to travel long distance to get fresh water from other villages. Others just get water from unprotected sources,” she said.

Bernard said clean water was critical for people to observe personal hygiene, especially at a time the country is registering cholera cases.

The area’s water project committee chairperson Edward Matias said access to water is a human rights issue; hence, he thanked the organisation for the initiative.

“The project will relieve women from the burden of walking long distance in search of water,” he said.

Ministry of Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Ellias Chimulambe said government and its partners now prefer to provide water to communities