Protection of Mulanje Mountain group warns on project to tap water from Likhubula River to Blantyre
Mulanje Water Project which is to construct new water supply system from Likhubula water source on Mulanje Mountain to Blantyre supply area is facing opposition from community members under Citizens for the Protection of Mulanje Mountain (CPM)which has vowed to sabotage the Blantyre Water Board (BWB) project.
The group accused BWB of not honouring the social-responsibility agreement which entails among other things that the board should lant trees within the project’s catchment area at Chambe Basin instead of the 3 500 hectares.
“No single tree has been planted and we warn that we will not allow the project to take off based on the current situation,” said the group’s leader David Majaweta.
He warned of “total chaos” of anyone will come to the Likhubula River for the project before fulfilling the agreement.
President Peter Mutharika launched the K18 billion Likhubula Water Supply System project on November 7, 2016 which involves drawing water from Likhubula River all the way to Nguludi Turnoff in Chiradzulu where there will be a treatment plant.
They blocked the then Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda when he wanted to visit the water source, arguing that government should first reafforest 3 500 hectares where trees were destroyed.
The residents also wanted government to assure them that they will benefit from the project.
The project finances were secured from the Indian Line of Credit through Exim Bank with a $23.5 million (about K18 billion) line of credit to finance it of which 15 percent will be from Blantyre Water Board.
The time frame for the project is 18 months.
BWB will then supply the water to Blantyre and surrounding districts such as Chiradzulu and parts of Thyolo. The water will also benefit people from the source, Mulanje.
It is expected that the new water source at Mulanje will provide an additional 20000m3 while the one along the Shire River will produce about 120,000m3 adding to an already existing capacity of 96,000m3 from Walkers Ferry which will improve efficiency of water supply as well as sustainability of supply as the above water sources are reliable perennial rivers.
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Wamisala anaona nkhondo. Not all what the concerned citizens say is all sabotage. Critical analysis has to be taken and their issues taken
on board. On another sad note-we people from within the catchment area we are fond of cutting down trees. If you are really serious show
the Ministry of Naturtal Resources your prtoposal for reaforestation programmes and serious laws to curb wantom cutting down of trees.
Mulanje mountain is a watershed for several perrennial rivers but these days, overpopulation, wantom cutting of trees and farming up to
the river banks of most of the major rivers has made a severe impact on the flow of most of these once mighty rivers.
Government and local authorities in Mulanje take this aforestation programme very very serious otherwise 5 years after the BT-MJ water project we might see a drying up of Likhubula river downstream. Mafumu, anthu wamba ngati ine ndi ena onse ozungulira phirili titengepo
mbali yaikulu poteteza mitengo ndi zachilengedwe zonse phiri lathu lokongolali.
But the question is who depleted the Mt. Mulenje Forest? and again are we not all going to benefit from this water project? I do believe some people will be employed, and the water that runs down from this river will finally be made useful to almost all Blantyre City residents. Let me tell you one thing God has blessed us with this water and for many years this water has never been put to use productively… each and every day the water flows down the Likhubula River down to Luo River before it drains into Shire River which goes down to Zambezi River to Indian Ocean just like that.
I wonder what type of people we are as Malawians?? what we should know is that there will be no any tangible development/project that shall take place without taking any risk.
If you are there agreeing on ways of surpressing these developments which we have now then who do you think shall do for us?
If you are there right up now as a concerned citizen why is that the Mulenje Mt is becoming bear, you can’t tell me that you do not know the people who are doing this mess, you definetly know them and you can be one of them. Think twice man we need water here in Blantyre and you need water there in Mulanje all what is required is working togater as Malawians.
Ok what will happen if the project is withdrawn who is going to plant the trees for you, this to shows how lazy you are and how careless you are to your own things which God gave you freely, you spoil the creation and you ask somebody to replenish it for you, oohhhh!!! come on let’s be sensible guyz. take for example inuyo mwabibidwa ndiye mukufuna kuti wina akuchapileni zobvala zoona??? you must be crazy.
Mitengo munadula nokha anthu a ku Mulanje. Boma lisiyeni lipange chitukuko. Inu nthawi yonseyi simumadzala mitengo bwanji, or, tiwonetseni mitengo yomwe munadzala mu phiri la Mulanje kuti tikhulupilire ngati mulidi concerned citizens of Mulanje kapena ongofuna ndalama basi!!
HAS THE GOVERNMENT DONE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT? MAY I APPEAL TO POWERS THAT BE TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER INSTITUTING THE ASSESSMENT FIRST.
Dont let the government damage our God-given resource without taking necessary and agreed measures first. This government is fond of damaging our resources. Look at Kayerekera now. Ayambe kaye adzala mitengoyo and imele bwino bwino before tapping the water!!