Chakwera backs Malawi govt over mega water project
Leader of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera has thrown his full weight behind the controversial US$400 million Lake Malawi water project which government is initiating to end water woes in the Capital City.
In a media interview, Chakwera said the water project is the only lasting solution to the persistent water problems in Lilongwe and surrounding areas.
“We needed the project yesterday. The issues of Area 18 where water was contaminated with human waste is a clear indication that we need the water project,” said Chakwera.
His sentiments are however in contrast to the country’s donors and some section of civil society who have asked the government to follow all procedures before embarking on the project.
South Africa-based Khato Holdings Limited, through a joint venture of Khato Civils (Pty) Limited and Zambezi (Pty), was contracted by Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) and Malawi Government to install the water pipeline project following a closed tender process involving over six companies and a successful business pitch at the Malawi Investment Forum (MIF).
However, critics, including Kenneth Wiyo, an associate professor at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) who is also a certified registered engineer with over 22 years of experience, have cast doubts on the project implementation.
Lilongwe Water Board chief executive officer Alfonso Chikuni however said if the project is not rolled out soon, all taps in the Capital City would go dry as the water system is obsolete.
Chakwera said the new water project would replace all old water pipes which would ensure that there is no repeat of what happened in Area 18, Lilongwe.
This is a rare moment when Chakwera has agreed with some government policies.
A recent survey shows that he and his Malawi Congress Party are leading in polls ahead of the 2019 general election.
Makamaka anzathu inu aku Phalombe, Mulanje ndi Chiradzulu inu please mukutivets chisoni chifukwa ndimaboma omwe umphawi8 ulitho koma kaya chipanga inu ndichani ine sindidziwa ayi. Bwerani ku MCP umphawi wanu uthe.
Mphekesera zabodzatu. Afro barometer predicted if we vote now Chakwera becomes head of state. Musataye pachabe vote yanu nthawi yatha kale a Malawi mtsogoleri ndi uyu Chakwera tiyeni tipange apanga Afro barometer zo.
In case you didn’t know, Simbi funds Chakwela, and in fact the first ever car this Reverend used for campaign was bought by Simbi. You can imagine if MCP wins, Simbi will continue to get over inflated projects in Malawi. Can Malawians trust Chakwera? Corruption is pandemic in Malawi and this is being fueled and benefiting politicians.
Chakwera sangatsutse za simbi; amadyera konko ka – Simbi nde ma trustee a Congolese-wo paja
Thanks mr chabwera we need water but not from salima. We have too many blackouts where are you going to get the electricity to pump water from? Please can u follow what the prof in Lilongwe said. We are fifty years old but we don t have 24 hours of electricity!!!! Guys it’s another project which we will benefit the few. Catch the water before it reaches salima. Blanytre water board pumps water from shire . Do we have water 24hours in Bt ? No a big NO . That is the problem when businessmen corrupt politicians. Chabwera less my vote today
When this project is complete, Mr. Simbi will have earned a lot of money, most of which he will re-invest in Malawi. We have seen some of his local investments, and social responsibility projects like Mchinji Police Station. If however, an Indian, Portuguese or any contractor does this project, the profits earned will be deposited in Bombay, Lisbon or Geneva banks. Its up to us Malawians who to award this project to.
chakwela is a man who knows what is good and what is bad, so this indicates that he does not oppose anything that comes but opposes what he sees as not good . In this case supporting government is the only way forward to end this miserable water problems we are all facing in malawi. Chakwela iam with you.
Chakwera is a gentleman who says what must be said whether it pleases one or not. He has moral principles.
Munadya nawo za Khatho….
Paja Simbi wa Khatho ananena kale kuti he has supported MCP And Chakwera in person with campaign money. So what else can.Chakwera say ? but to support so that he continues to eat from Simbi.
Now you see my fellow Malawians, remember there were pictures of Rev. Chakwera attending a wedding ceremony at the house of the Khato gentleman . Let me hear someone saying”Chakwera is different, Chakwera this & that…”
Do not be surprised by Judas Iscariot. Simbi has managed to corrupt all politicians in government and opposition. If MCP is surviving it is because of Simbi. That is why Chakwera is making noise on this issue to justify his pay check. Imagine how many behind the counter deals Chakwera will authorise once he is in power. A Malawi mnyanga wawonekela chimunthuchi ndichoyipa. vote wisely, Chakwera will not assist you but his business associates only to reap the nation.
kaya,choka uko
Simbi factor at Play here
he has agreed because simbi is his friend…he is the one building his mansion… had not been for this mmmmmm
Galimoto la Hammer, nyumba ku area 6 komanso chipani cha MCP mphekesera zimati its financed by Khato
Honourable Dr Chakwera sir, ever I started following your political style, this is the first to impress me. Congratulations Rev Chakwera for that. Malawians need clean water to drink, and this project is the solution to this problem. Uku ndiye kutsutsa mwamaganizo. I adore you MCP president.
Mmmmmmm really?????
Totally different with what i have gone through in your story, particularly with your headline of the story anyway that’s the type of journalist we have, the issue of water is for all of us, and what Dr Chakwera has said according to what you have write here shows that he is telling Malawians that indeed what happened in Area 18 is a wake up call to all Malawians starting from Government so that proper water projects should be implemented, Chakwera didn’t mention about how the contract of the project will be, in other words you have tried to put some words in Chakwera just like he is also against the donors and civil society organization for their questions of how the contract went through, of which am not sure that it was supposed to be like that.
Malawians, we should be careful with these donors. They want companies from their countries to do the project. If this was Mota Engil or some Chinese company, they wouldn’t have been all this noise. But the contractor Khato is Malawian.
khato wamunyambitisa uyu
That is true opposition. Where policies would benefit the majority of Malawians a gifted and talented Leader of opposition suuports those projects for the common good of mother Malawi. You mean this so called Engineer with so many years of experience cannot see that the
dryness of the capital and the need to tap the abundant natural fresh God given waters of our beautiful Lake Malawi? To make matters even
better the contract is given to our own Malawian son who if given the project will give him impetus to roll out more projects in mother Malawi.
Amalawi tiyeni tisiye nsanje ndikumvera ma donors. They assist but they do not want us to engage in projects that will see us get out of poverty. And I should think the so called Engineer was very much in support of the much touted Diamphwe dam project despite the massive
degradation of Dzalanyama forest which is the catchment area for both Lilongwe and Diamphwe rivers. With your massive experience you put all your weight to a project which will not last next 20 years and you call yourself an experienced Engineer???