By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, May 6, Mana: Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) says it will continue providing Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chapter with monetary support as one way of appreciating the role the media in the country play in promoting issues relating to water, sanitation and hygiene.

In an Interview with Malawi News Agency, LWB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sili Mbewe said the water utility company values the work the country's media do in promoting issues concerning water, sanitation and hygiene.

“As Lilongwe Water Board, we really value the media in the context of promoting what we are there for, as you know our mandate is to focus on water supply services; now we have taken over the sewerage services from Lilongwe City Council, which means our mandate is extending to sanitation.

“Therefore, for us we do value the importance of media particularly to promote the aspect of water, sanitation and hygiene,” Mbewe said.

LWB has been supporting MISA Malawi for over the past five years particularly in sponsoring its annual awards in the category of Best Urban Water Development Journalist of the Year.

This year, the water supply company also assisted MISA Malawi with K3.5 million channeled towards the Best Urban Water Development Journalist of the Year award during its annual gala awards event which was held recently in Mangochi.

According to Mbewe, LWB will continue to work with MISA Malawi in promoting the area of water, sanitation and hygiene in the country.

“We are really committed particularly now that we have added the sewerage services; we are really proud to partnering with MISA Malawi in our work,” he said.

In his comment, MISA Malawi National Governing Council member Stevie Zimba hailed LWB for supporting MISA Malawi.

“LWB is one of our traditional partners which sponsor the annual gala awards; we do not take their financial support for granted and their support is quite a big boost to us,” Zimba said.