BwB coughs K140m to protect Mudi dam as water levels drastically reduce
Over 2000 susistence farmers who enchroached Mudi dam, the source of water for Blantyre Water Board have finally stopped cultivating around the dam after the board paid out K140m in compensation.
The board paid out the money to settle the matter once and for all although in real life set up, tge state was supposed to prosecute them for encroaching in a protected area.
Blantyre Water Board’s Mabvuto Chiipanthenga said on Friday the board to the decision after exhausting all avenues to deal with the matter after noticing that water levels in the dam had drastically gone down from 45 million litres per day to just 6 million litres per day.
“We used to spend a lot of money to uy chemicals to purify the water of chemicals because of fertilizer in the catchment area. The water levels dwindled drastically because of wanton cutting down of trees around the catchment area,” said Chiipathenga.
He said people encroached the protected area at the dawn of multiparty democracy.
A visit by journalists to the area on Friday showed all farming activities have stopped completely, thanks to the now good working relationship with local leaders around the dam.
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WHERE LAW STOPS FUNCTIONING HUMANISM TAKES OVER. THIS DOES NOT SHOW THE POPULACE THAT GOVERNMENT HAS COWERED IN. NO. DEALING WITH MASSES OF DIFFERENT VIEWS CAN BE DAUNTING AS UNDERSTANDING LEVELS OF SOCIETY AND ECONOMICS OF “REAP WHERE YOU DID NOT SOW” TAKES OVER. OPPORTUNITY TO REAP GOVERNMENT IN A CHANCE IN A LIFE TIME LOTTERY-LIKE FORTUNE. BWB SHOULD USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FENCE OFF THE CATCHMENT AREA AND BRING IT BACK TO ITS OLD GLORY WHERE THE LAND HAD BLUEGUM AND CONIFER TREES. THE SAME PEOPLE ARE THE ONES THAT MARCHED AGAINST BWB FOR NOT DELIVERING A DROP OF… Read more »
Can you please publish the whole list of the compensated encroachers? Mains name ndikalime dimba langa kumeneko ndilandire nawo.
AGALU A ESCOM
MUNDIBWEZERE NDALAMA ZANGA
MAGETSI SIMUKUYIKA KUNYUMBA
KWANGA
SHUPIT ZANU
The issue of compensation looks a straight issue but its no. It is highly sensitive and political. So on paper (Malamulo), these encroachers were not supposed to be compensated, but in practice its not possible. Apparently these people are in their thousands and from Ndirande township (if you know what I mean). This entails that on its own the organisation can not stop the cultivations without “approval”. Everyone knows, if you politically mess up in Ndirande you slim your winning chances and hence a highly sensitive issue in the eye of the politician. Democracy and greed are two elements killing… Read more »
People needed to be made aware of dangers of cultivating in the water catchment area. But then before I proceed this is a joke. Paying encroaches? Really. Does Malawi lawas allow people to own farmland in the city centre? Sure? What are you really compensating for? What mechanisms are there to stop encroaching? Are the police and courts involved in this arrangents? Eeeish..
Everything have ad and disadvantages: these people who were cultivating along Ndirande Makhetha along the Mudi dam were keeping this area safe while polluting the water source, but now these area will become safe haven for thieves and killers. BWB should take the responsibility of protecting the citizens by flashing out the thieves who will be inhabit in the forest
Cash gate. How do u compensate encroaches. Should have invested the money to bring water from mulanje mountain