Anti-Bakili Muluzi / MALAWI POLITICS TODAY

Likoma to get fresh water
BY FRANCIS TAYANJAH-PHIRI
08:56:15 - 25 June 2007

LIKOMA Island, which has had no access to clean and portable water, will shortly have the facility, courtesy of Northern Region Water Board (NRWB).

NRWB board chair Wyson Mkochi said this in an exclusive interview Friday, adding feasibility studies on provision of safe portable water has been concluded.

“We did the feasibility studies using our own resources and I am glad to disclose that shortly works on the water facility would start. After completion of the project, both Likoma and Chizumulu would have safe and portable water,” said Mkochi.

Early this year, President Bingu wa Mutharika tasked Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development to ensure that people on the islands have clean and safe water provision, just like all other Malawians.

The President, speaking at Katoto grounds in Mzuzu, expressed shock that Likoma and Chizumulu islands did not have piped water yet they were surrounded by waters.

According to Mkochi, top NRWB officials would on tomorrow travel to the two islands to brief Minister of Irrigation and Water Development Sidik Mia and other senior government officials on the concluded plans and feasibility study.

“We want the minister to appreciate what we, as a board, have done on our own. We are optimistic that this coming budget would set aside funds to make the project a reality,” said Mkochi.

Meanwhile, a team of officials from Bloem Water, a South African water board twinned to NRWB, has applauded their Malawian counterparts for providing people with “enviable quality of water”.

“We are very impressed with the way NRWB is providing such quality water despite limited resources. We have learnt a lot during our tour and we are pleased that our twinning is yielding results in our prospective water boards,” said Mampiti Matsabu, chair for Bloem Water.