Ntcheu residents issue ultimatum over water woes

Ntcheu residents have given a 10-day ultimatum to the Central Region Water Board (CRWB) to address the erratic water supply that has hit the district for the past year.

In a petition addressed to CRWB chief executive officer and copied to the officer-in-charge of Ntcheu Police, the Ntcheu Magistrate’s Court and project manager for Groundwater Department, the residents say they are being forced to source water from unsafe places.

“[The water shortage] has triggered a rise in waterborne diseases among under-five children and to the general public as residents are now accessing water from Mpamadzi River which is highly contaminated with effluent from leaking septic tanks from prison.

“This poses a high risk of a disease outbreak. With these issues emanating from inconsistent supply of safe water, we are demanding an explanation and immediate action within 10 working days,” reads the petition in part.

Meanwhile, Ntcheu District Hospital has suspended major operations and is referring all cases to Balaka and Dedza district hospitals, some 40 to 45 kilometres away, due to the erratic water supply at the facility.

Ntcheu District Hospital administrator MacArthur Makata confirmed that water supply has been erratic at the hospital, saying the situation became worse some five months ago. He also agreed with contents of the petition, saying the hospital has received “a significant increase in diarrhoea cases” in under-five children.

“People are using alternative sources of water for survival and this is what has led to an increase in diarrhoea cases for the past five months. In addition, when we have an emergency case, it means it cannot wait. So to make that patient travel an additional 30 kilometres for health care is a gamble, but with the water shortage, there is absolutely nothing we can do,” Makata said.

He said they asked CRWB to ration water supply, but so far this has not worked as emergencies cannot be planned.

“We are running a hospital and with this situation, it means our toilets are in bad state, the laundry is bad and we are even sending some of it to be washed in Dedza and Balaka. It’s an awkward situation,” he said.

Despite not seeing the petition, Ntcheu district commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga said the scarcity of water in his area has reached bad levels, leaving people with no choice but to draw water from unsafe sources.

“Even in my house, I have not had running water since May. The water I drink comes from a borehole. It is not pleasing at all,” said Makanga.

When contacted, public relations and administrator for CRWB Zephelimo Mitumba said they are aware of the situation. He, however, expressed shock when told of that emergency operations at the district hospital are being referred to Balaka and Dedza hospitals.

“Oh, I did not know the situation was that bad. We deployed some mitigating measures. It is just that there is irrigation farming which is taking place there and the farmers block some pipes, hence the reduced water flow, but we will sort the situation in two weeks time,” Mitumba said.

When asked as to what CRWB is doing to ensure the situation is resolved in the said time, Mitumba said the situation is complicated as they have to involve the police to control the farmers who “are deliberately blocking the water pipes”.

“In two weeks, the situation will have improved,” he said. n