Rumphi water project in race against time
Contractor for the K3.2 billion Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Infrastructure for Improved Health and Livelihood (SRWIHL) project in Rumphi has completed 58 percent of the work, against 78 percent of time that has elapsed, engineers have said.
Speaking when the Public Works Committee of Rumphi District Council toured the projects last Thursday, consulting engineer Reason Mberengwa said despite the delay, the 12- month-long project will be completed in December as scheduled.
“The contractor is expected to complete all the schemes before October 30 this year. The activity was delayed to align concrete works with the dry months of the year when the river flow is low. Of the 16 tanks, 11 are at roof level, and two already have roof cast,” he said.
Rumphi district commissioner Fred Movete expressed satisfaction with progress and quality of the works.
He said most schemes in the district had become dysfunctional because they outlived their lifespan.
The project, being implemented by Sawa Group, involves construction and rehabilitation of five gravity-fed schemes of Mlowe, Lura, Hewe, Mhuju and Ng’onga, targeting 59 832 people.
