CoPu calls for urgent intervention in Blantyre water board dispute

The Consumer Protection Unit (CoPu) has expressed concern over what it describes as an escalating institutional conflict at the Blantyre Water Board (BWB), warning that the situation could undermine the provision of water services to more than 1.5 million residents in Blantyre.

The concerns follow the suspension of BWB Chief Executive Officer Yeremiah Chihana last Friday, an action that CoPu says has heightened tensions within the

institution.According to CoPu, the ongoing institutional deadlock poses a serious risk to the stability and continuity of water supply in Blantyre, where thousands of households, businesses and public institutions depend on the water board for essential services.

The organisation has therefore called for the immediate intervention of the Controller of Statutory Corporations to address the dispute and help restore stability within the institution.

In a press statement, CoPu said the continued conflict at the water board should not be allowed to escalate to a point where it compromises the delivery of essential public services.

CoPu has urged the relevant authorities to act swiftly and ensure that the dispute is resolved through appropriate institutional mechanisms, while safeguarding the interests of consumers who rely on the Blantyre Water Board for a reliable supply of water.

The statement was signed by CoPu leaders Edwards Kambanje and Prince Mataka.The organisation said an effective intervention was necessary to prevent the institutional impasse from adversely affecting water services and to ensure that the board remains focused on its core responsibility of providing safe and reliable water to the people of Blantyre.