Chakwera says K11bn water project key to economy
President Lazarus Chakwera has described the $14.3 million (about K11 billion) water project Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) is implementing in Mangochi as key to the country’s socio-economic development.
The President said this on Saturday after visiting Nkhudzi Bay, the epicentre of the water project. He was on his way to Lilongwe from Mangochi where he presided over the 9th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Medical Doctors on Friday at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge.
Chakwera assured people of Mangochi that the project, which is expected to benefit 92 847 people from Mtakataka Turn-off in Monkey Bay to the Bishop’s House in Mangochi, will be expedited to enable people to access tap water.
He said: “We want to turn Mangochi into a city and we can only achieve this if we have all the amenities such as potable water.
“I passed by Nkhudzi Bay to find out where we are with the water project and I have been assured that the project is rolling out and it will soon make potable water accessible to some parts of Mangochi.”
Chakwera assured people in Mangochi that the project has been thoroughly scrutinised, adding that he has been assured by SRWB that the project will not affect the world heritage site.
In an earlier interview, SRWB acting director of infrastructure development Engineer Jacqueline Dias said works on the project started on February 1 this year.
“The project is on course and the contractor has already mobilised equipment. Staff houses have already been completed,” she said. The project is expected to be completed by July 2022, according to SRWB.
