Water shortage worries Kasungu residents
Water shortage has hit Kasungu Municipality, forcing some residents to draw water from unsafe sources such as wells and rivers.
The worst hit areas are Kasungu Township, Belele, Chiteyeye, Gundani, Kaning’a, Kasalika and Maplot where residents go up to five days without running water.
Frejas Macobra from Chiteyeye said the water scarcity has disturbed his family’s work routine.
“The work supposed to be done in the morning is suffering as we spend much time walking long distances to get water at Chitete River,” he said.
Tangu Kamanga, a resident of Belele, said she feared the situation could result in an outbreak of waterborne diseases.
Kasungu North legislator Mike Bango said it was sad that residents were experiencing water shortages that can put their lives at risk of waterborne diseases.
“I plead with Central Region Water Board [CRWB] to rectify the problem as soon as possible,” he said.
CRWB spokesperson Zepherino Mitumba said the water utility has developed mechanisms to address the challenges.
“There are short, medium and long-term solutions we plan to introduce,” he said.
He said CRWB is looking for funding from development partners to construct a multi-purpose dam at Kwengwere Village on Dwangwa River.
“Feasibility studies and preliminary designs were already made and we are embarking on an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment [Esia] of the project. “The project has a component on comprehensive rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure and expansion to other areas,” he said.
