People around Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Traditional Authority Kalimanjira will no longer struggle to access safe water, thanks to Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm) which has drilled 32 boreholes in the area.
Wesm, which is implementing Nkhotakota Game Reserve Project in partnership with African Parks with funding from Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation through the Bridgit Foundation, has also repaired 80 non-functional boreholes in the area.
borehole. I Lovemore Khomo
Speaking on Tuesday during the handover of the boreholes, Wesm Dwangwa branch manager Yassin Rashid Malandula said the demand for water is high in the areas.
He said: “We are exploring innovations that will bring water closer to every
household. The project is not only improving lives, but is reducing conflict between communities and wildlife over water resources.
“With safe and reliable boreholes nearby, families no longer need to cross into the reserve where animals also gather for water.”
Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation representative Belinda Chiume expressed empathy for the struggles women endure to access safe water.
“You can see the relief on their faces. A single borehole has changed their daily reality and restored their dignity,” she said.
Ellina John, 40, said she spent her life waking up around 3am in search of water.
“We were fetching water from wells we shared with wild animals. I was bitten by a snake while fetching water from the well,” she said.
Group village head Njumbula I said the boreholes have relieved women of the burden of walking long distances to fetch water
