Southern Malawi mega water project takes off August – BWB
Blantyre Water Board officials say the southern region US$23.5 million Indian government funded water project takes off next month and water is expected to be tapped from near the peak of Mulanje Mountain to Blantyre.
Acting Blantyre Water Board chief executive officer Henry Bakuwa said there will be two steel types from Chambe, up Mulanje Mountain which will join a single pipe at Nkando Trading Centre in Mulanje before bringing the water to Nguludi where there will be a treating plant.
“The new water project will give us 20 per cent of the current demand for water in Blantyre because it will provide us with 20, 000 cubic metres of water against the demand of 100, 000 cubic metres,” he said.
The project has faced several challenges including rejection by some concerned citizens in the area who accused the government of imposing the project on them.
The concerned citizens wanted the government to consult them first before rolling out the project.
Some civil society groups also wanted the government to plant trees in affected areas.
Former cabinet minister George Chaponda, who was minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development was chased out of the area along with Blantyre Water Board officials at the height of misunderstandings with the people in the area on the project.
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