Mutharika appoints taskforce to investigate  Lilongwe sewage horror in 14 days

President Peter Mutharika has instituted a six-member task-force to investigate the water contamination incident that occurred in Area 18 in Lilongwe in July when some residents  had sewage-filled water flowing from their taps.

Mutharika has appointed Chief Director in the Office of President and Cabinet, Rexie Chiluzi to chair the task-force with deputy Director of administration (OPC), Victor Sandikonda to man the secretariat.

Other members in the task-force are Modesta Kanjaye, Director of Water in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development; Chief State Advocate in the Ministry of Justice, Pacharo Kayira; Director of Local Government Service in the Ministry of Local Government, Sphiwe Mauwa, and Dr. Magret Kabuluzi who is Director of Preventive Health Services in the Ministry of Health.

The President  has given the civil service-led team 14 days to come up with its findings.

Malawi Institute of Engineers (Central Region Chapter) has since offered to give advice and expertise to institutions dealing with sanitation.

Meanwhile, residents of Area 18 are demanding a K2 million each compensation for drinking the contaminated water.

Recently, Parliament faulted Malawi Housing Corporation a(MHC) for the incident which affected over 200 people.

MHC and LCC are the ones who manage the sewer system in the area which, according to the residents, overflows very often but the two institutions are failing to rectify the situation despite recent water contamination incident.

Lilongwe Water Board Chief Executive officer (CEO) Engineer Alfonso Chikuni said recently his institution was not responsible for the sewer leakage mess which is putting lives of Area 18 residents at risk of contracting waterborne diseases such as cholera and other bacterial infections.

Chikuni argued that as the situation stands, LWB has been left with no option and is considering shutting down water supply in the area until the sewer problem is rectified.

On Tuesday 18^th July area was affected by water contamination due to sewer overflow that sipped into the water pipes and LWB has been working on rectifying the problem by, among other initiatives, disinfecting the its supply system in the area to ensure the pipes are thorough clean and it is currently replacing the old pipe network with new one.

LWB resumed supply of clean water to the area after cleaning the affected system and has since assured the customers that the water is safe and fit for human consumption.