NRWB snubs Kalondolondo assessment meeting of water delivery services
Officials from the Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) Monday this week shunned a meeting where Mzuzu based Youth Watch Society inaugurated the Kalondolondo programme assessment of delivery of water services.
“I personally delivered the invitation letter to their offices and they assured us that they will attend. I am also surprised why they are not here,” said Youth Watch Programme Officer Edward Gama.
Gama was reacting to queries from various stakeholders who were perplexed with the conspicuous absence of NRWB officials.
But NRWB Public Relations Officer Edward Nyirenda expressed ignorance of the said meeting.
“Otherwise we sincerely apologize that we were not there. It was not intentional. We view the group and the programme as a valued partner and we would still want to meet and engage them on the issues,” Nyirenda said in an email response.
He said NRWB has previously attended and participated in similar programme other organisation are conducting in Karonga and Chitipa.
The Youth Watch Society programme will assess water services in Mzuzu and part of Ekwendeni whereby interfaces meeting between users and the service provider will be organised.
“We wouldn’t to argue…. but water supply in Mzuzu is generally very good. But we know challenges are there in some areas but we are trying our level best to supply the City and Ekwendeni and other areas within our supply area,” the NRWB Publicist said.
Critical in these meetings will be completion of a scorecard with 16 indicators among them water quality, timelines in initial connections to water, quality of reconnections, and reliability of water among others.
“It is not about policing each other or fault finding. It is about engagement because such meeting are non-existent. It is our right to demand better services from service providers,” Gama said.
Mzuzu City Council Mayor William Mkandawire welcomed the programme saying water is an important resource.
Various stakeholders at the meeting agreed during plenary session that they were not satisfied with the delivery of water services in Mzuzu saying NRWB treats customers with scorn and that many of their staff demand bribes.
“But if customers are not getting the best treatment from our staff, our doors are open. If indeed some of our staff are requesting for bribes in whatever form, let us know. We take these issues seriously and will take necessary action. Otherwise, our priority remains the customer,” Nyirenda said.
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I am a Lilongwe resident but now in the north for business endeavors, honestly speaking water in Mzuzu is good in terms of pressure and availability, on quality I think you need to improve because your water is very sticky like thelele it takes a lot of water for somebody to finish and enjoy the bath, therefore please improve this. As for this meeting it was better for you to attend the meeting because it is critcs which makes one perfect, remember Bingu perfomed well in his first 5 years just because there was pure and honest opposition, so please… Read more »
As a Mzuzu resident, am surprised. The Board tries to provide us with enough water unless there are serious challenges. I do not want to believe some issues in this article. Water supply is not a big challenge here,
hey, officials, this is Nyika Republic! We know Mzuzu has the best water service so far, but you still need to attend these meetings so that you can continue to improve. The moment you become complacent you will be like Blantyre water board which is failing miserably! Or you will be like LL waterboard, which is facing problems with the deforestation of Dzalanyama, the source of the rivers that supply LL. NRWB can also use this forum to raise awareness on conserving water catchment areas, reporting illegal water connections, etc. Everyone will gain
Why is the board offering apologies?
Is the board legally obliged to submit to the subjective reviews that this brief case organization conducts?
I would want to review the credentials of all employees of this organizations to confirm the quality and objectiveness of their reviews. So Kalondolondo guys please avail yourself at the earliest convenience.
NRWB is doing agreat job, why dont u travel to BT and ask BWB why people pay bills without getting water????? otherwise dont waste yout time with NRWB, its doing a very great job than any other waterboards in maalwi
Area 4 wiĺl fail with a distinction when it comes to water supply reliability.
THEY TREATED ME SO BAD WHEN I WENT TO THEIR OFFICE. THEY CALLED ME MCHAWA WAKUMWELA. ATUMBUKAAAA AT THEIR BEST.