Malawi Government says it is overwhelmed by the soaring demand for water services across the country.
Minister of Water Development and Irrigation Richie Muheya said this on Friday on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony of plant operators at the Malawi Institute of Management (MIM) in the capital, Lilongwe.
“What has come out clear is that we have been overwhelmed by the increasing demand for water services, especially in Blantyre and Lilongwe,” said Muheya.
He was commenting on what government is doing to contain the shortage of water in most residential areas of Blantyre and Lilongwe.
The minister noted that the setting up of Blantyre and Lilongwe water boards was meant to cater for a small population. The growing population continues to pile pressure on the capacity of the two water boards.
Muheya said government is weighing up all possible solutions to balance the growing demand for water and also expand the capacity of plant operations in the country’s water boards.
“It [shortage of water] has been an outstanding problem and I can’t say that it will be solved tomorrow. That is why we have a lot of players now coming in the water sector [to] join hands with government,” he added.
Muheya said Malawians should be assured that government remains committed to assisting water utilities to improve their performance.
