Mzuzu peri-urban to have modern pit latrines

Malawi Red Cross has embarked on a two-year sanitation project which will see people in Mzuzu peri-urban and Karonga have access to safe drinking water and modern pit latrines.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Mzuzu City on Tuesday, director of programme and development, Hastings Kandaya, said, among other things, the organisation through the project will construct and rehabilitate 35 water kiosks in Mzuzu and Karonga.

He said Malawi is lagging behind towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on sanitation; hence, the project which is being funded by European Union (EU) will address some of the sanitation problems   people in the two districts face.

Said Kandaya: “Most urban poor communities have no space to construct septic tanks for flush toilets and in some areas, it is even a challenge to construct a pit latrine. We, therefore, would like to encourage the use of environmentally safe pit latrines.”

In her remarks, Mzuzu City Council director of health and social services Lilian Chirwa said her council has been looking for development partners to embark on water and sanitation projects.

She said her council is now constructing paying toilets in the city’s markets as well as providing concrete waste bins.

Said Chirwa: “We are also planning on having rest rooms all over town to keep the city clean because issues of sanitation are paramount to us.”