Dedza water crisis requires long lasting solution

Dedza, January 14, Mana: Central Region Water Board (CRWB) says population growth, deforestation and erratic rains are some of the factors that have contributed to water shortage problem in Dedza.

CRWB Chief Executive Officer John Makwenda said the problem requires a comprehensive and sustainable solution.

Makwenda was speaking on Monday when he engaged Dedza residents who planned a vigil at CRWB Dedza offices, accusing the body of failing to implement an even water supply rationing amid the crisis as per agreed in their first meeting of July 3, 2024.

He said the board’s major source of water is Dedza Mountain, whose supply has dwindled over the years due to loss of vegetation cover amid population growth.

“Dedza Mountain is our major source of water. We lost many trees around the mountain hence the problem. We brought in other measures, such as drilling boreholes and installing water pumps. However, these solutions have met other challenges like inconsistence supply of power,” he said.

Makwenda said the board had presented a comprehensive water supply project proposal to government, suggesting the problem would need over K40 billion and that other districts such as Ntcheu are also in need.

He assured Dedza residents that in the interim the board will intensify the water rationing programme, replace four water pumps at borehole sites by Friday, January 17, and examine and fix pipe lines that are not producing water probably due to blockage or low pressure to mitigate the crisis.

Ministry of Water and Sanitation Director of Water Supply Services, Prince Mleta, promised allocation of a gen-set from the ministry within the week to boost electricity supply for pumping water at Dauya, one of the sites the board had drilled its boreholes.

“On top of the solar panels which are not sufficing the demand and also that at times we experience power outages, the Ministry will provide a standby gen-set at Dauya,” he said.

He further said government is working in collaboration with CRWB to do away with water shortage in the district, saying this needs construction of dams as a reliable source of water, among others.

“CRWB has made plans and requests which have gone through the Ministry of Water, and the Water Ministry is engaging with the Ministry of Finance to have funds released or lobby for donors to have these projects implemented as soon as possible,” he explained.

Chairperson for Concerned CRWB Water Users Group, which planned the vigil, Medson Gova, expressed satisfaction with the meeting’s resolutions.

“Failure to implement these resolutions will prompt us to take another action. In fact, our plan today was to conduct a peaceful vigil at Dedza CRWB offices,” he said.

During the meeting, residents claimed Dedza Roadblock area did not have access to water for close to two years.

They also bemoaned monthly payment of service fee to the board as injustice to households that never accessed water from the board for many months to which Makwenda said it is legally binding and hard for the board to promise a consideration.

CRWB has over 5,000 clients in Dedza and has updated its rationing programme attributed to erratic rains. The board has advised its clients that the rationing schedule may be affected by power outages, pipe breakdowns and other factors.

Dedza District Council mediated the meeting between the board and the residents.