Open Kamuzu Barrage,say Mangochi residents

Concerned Citizens in Mangochi District have asked government fully opens Kamuzu Barrage in Liwonde, Machinga, to reduce water levels upstream in lakes Malawi and Malombe as well as Shire River.

The concerned citizens yesterday, clad in clothes bearing messages such as ‘We are not hippos, we are human beings’, ‘Enough is enough’, marched to Mangochi District Council to deliver their petition.

Among the concerned citizens were people whose homes and businesses have been submerged in water following the rise in water levels in Lake Malawi following heavy rainfall from Tanzania.

Last month, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation said it was releasing up to 1 000 cubic millimetres per second of water at Kamuzu Barrage to moderate the water levels in Lake Malawi and Shire River.

Speaking before presenting the 16-page petition, the group’s chairperson Wellington Mangulenje said people were still struggling to live normal lives upstream.

“Failure to open the barrage within seven days will result in complete shutdown of Mangochi,” he said.

Mangulenje said their group, which comprises tenants, lodge and hotel owners as well as other businesspersons, will hold a vigil at Liwonde Barrage if they are not assisted.

Speaking after receiving the petition, Mangochi District Council director of administration Bisai Mtayamanja thanked the organisers for conducting peaceful demonstrations.

He pledged to forward the petition to the Office of President and Cabinet for action.

However, when contacted, Ministry of Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Elias Chimulambe dismissed the claims that the barrage is closed.

He said: “There is no way we can close the barrage because we depend on the same barrage for generation of electricity.

“People should know that the barrage is regulated by the amount of water upstream. The fact of the matter is that this year we have received more rain from the Northern Region and Tanzania.”

Chimulambe challenged the protesters to visit the barrage to assess the situation.