By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, February 25, Mana:  Contractor for Nyika Water Project, which will tap water from Runyina River in Nyika National Park and distribute to communities around Nyika/Vyaza conservation area, says the project will be ready by June, 2024.

Regional Manager for the contractor, HE Jackson Engineering, Timothy Bertrand, said this during a joint monitoring visit by Department of Parks and Wildlife and Rumphi District Council officials on Friday.

Bertrand said there has been some delays in the project due to importation challenges which has seen some pipes for the project stuck at Dar es Saalam Port for a month because the port was too busy to clear them.

He said, once completed, the project will be able to provide water to at least 18,000 people in 2024 and up to 33,000 by 2044.

District Commissioner for Rumphi, Emmanuel Bulukutu, said the project is one of the major water projects being implemented in the district by Malawi Government and its development partners.

He was optimistic that access to water will significantly improve in the targeted areas.

"We cannot talk of achieving the Malawi 2063 aspirations of becoming a self-reliant wealthy nation without water provision. These are the projects that will take us there. This will provide portable water for our people.

"We also had many Cholera cases around Kamphenda, Lusani, Mwazisi and Kazuni due to lack of access to clean and portable water. That will soon be a thing of the past," he said.

Principal Parks and Wildlife Officer in the Department of Parks and Wildlife, Catherine Chunga, was impressed with the quality of works and was optimistic the project will be completed within the revised timeframe.

Senior Chief Mpherembe of Mzimba, whose area will also benefit from the project, said people in the targeted areas were struggling to access clean and portable water, with some using untreated water from Rukuru River, increasing health risks such as Cholera outbreaks.

The US$4.5 million (approximately K7.6 billion) project, which is funded by the Republic of Germany through KFW and is managed by Peace Parks Foundation, was launched by Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule in April 2023, was initially expected to be completed by March, 2024.