K1.8bn solar-powered piped water project gets approval

Chikwawa District Executive Committee has approved construction of a K1.8 billion solar-powered piped water facility at Bereu Market in Traditional Authority Maseya in the district to provide potable water to the growing trading centre.

The project will be implemented by Johns Hopkins Programme for International Education in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Jhpiego) under its Momentum Country Global Leadership project.It is xpected to start benefitting communities by June 2027.

In an interview on Saturday after the meeting, Chikwawa District Council water development officer Lester Nsuza said the project was necessary because Bereu Trading Centre is growing and frequently experiences floods that submerge existing boreholes.

He said a water users association will promote the project’s sustainability through revenue collection from users.

An AI illustration demonstrating a woman fetching water from a tap. | AI

Jhpiego water, sanitation and hygiene adviser Christopher Chindole said the solar-powered facility will be constructed through a public private partnership.

“Illovo Sugar [Malawi] plc has shown the green light and will be our source of water,” he said.

Chindole said Chikwawa District Council will coordinate the activities and provide land for the solar plant and office.

A resident, Jacob Malunga, expressed excitement with the project, saying it will end water challenges in the area.

He said: “Boreholes were destroyed by floods and people rely on unprotected sources to access water.

“With the project on the line, we expect to access clean water which will improve people’s health.”

The project will initially provide 80 percent of its services through communal kiosks and 20 percent through private household connections, with an estimated 8 686 standpipe users and 2 172 private connection users.

Chikwawa is one of the districts affected by Cyclone Freddy in 2023 which destroyed sanitary infrastructure, including boreholes

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