Chitipa water project nears completion

About 85 percent of the $13 million (about K9.5 billion) Chitipa Water System is done.

Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) is upgrading the water system in the district by building a new water plant at Kalenge in Chitipa with funding from Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Badea) and Malawi government.

Badea has pumped in about $10m (about K7.3 billion) while government is meeting thebalance.

Updating Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda on Tuesday, Metaferia Consultant resident engineer Demelash Muluneh said most of the construction works have been finalised.

“The project will also benefit communities along the pipeline. We are on course and the works should be finishing in two months time,” he said.

Muluneh, however, said the project was meeting challenges on the part of government funding as the money is not being remitted on time.

Chaponda said government is committed to have the project completed on time and ensure that people have steady water supply.

NRWB chief executive officer Titus Mtegha said the board has embarked on afforestation programe and also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the communities to protect the catchment area. He said over 100 000 trees have so far been planted.n