By George Bulombola

Rumphi, March 13, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera says Thazima Gravity Piped Water Supply System Scheme will go a long way in enhancing environmental conservation at Nyika National Park and surrounding areas.

Chakwera was speaking Wednesday at Thazima in Rumphi when he inspected construction works of the US$4.5 million scheme.

The scheme is expected to serve about 18,000 people within seven and three trading centres in Rumphi and Mzimba respectively, once completed.

The President said while efforts to enhance environmental conservation at Nyika National Park are underway, deliberate efforts should be made to provide for communities around the park to ensure sustainability and ownership of various projects.

“There must be symbiotic relationship between whatever is being done in and around the park and community needs so that people should always appreciate the importance of taking part in promoting sustainable environment strategies as we strive to achieve Malawi 2063 which visualizes a self-reliant nation and urbanization,” said Chakwera.

He said much as the project will also promote sustainable tourism activities, tourism attractions on their own are not enough to create conducive atmosphere for tourism as communities surrounding such structures are also vital players in the sector.

Project Manager for Peace Parks Foundation, George Nyumayo, said people living in communities around the park face threats to their lives through exposure to dangerous animals as they go searching for water in the park.

Nyumayo said the scheme will reduce that challenge once completed.

“Once its operationalized, the intervention will also reduce long distances which people cover to get water from unprotected sources. It will also address issues of seasonal boreholes some of which yield salty water,” said Nyumayo.

A member of Nyika-Thazima Camp, Eliza Banda, described the project as a timely intervention to water and sanitation challenges which people in the area face.

“We are optimistic that the scheme will go a long way in reducing water borne diseases such as diarrhea, among others,” said Banda.

The project is aligned to Malawi 2063 through Enabler 7 which focuses on environmental sustainability through sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring improved water sources to rural communities.

Construction of the scheme commenced in April, 2023 and is expected to be completed by end June, 2024.

The project is co-financed by Federal Government of Germany through KFW Germany-SADC Corporation under Malawi-Zambia Trans frontier Conservation Area Project.