Parliamentary committee worry over underutilization of water supply

Magochi, June 7, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change has expressed concern over the low usage of the multi-billion Nkhudzi Bay water supply system in Mangochi by business enterprises such as lodges and hotels.

Chairperson of the Committee, Welani Chilenga said on Thursday during the tour to the water supply scheme that the parliamentary committee was worried by underutilization of the water facility which is meant to benefit 92,870 people by 2035.

He added that the committee, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, and National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) plan to engage owners of the business enterprises in Mangochi to discuss ways and means of utilizing the water supply system to its effectiveness.

‘‘As a committee, we are very concerned with how the water supply system is been utilized. The government invested a lot of money which was a loan and by the end of the day we have to pay back.

‘‘We have noted some anomalies in a sense that as much as the board has implemented the project very well, some lodge and hotel owners are refusing either to connect with the system or if they are connected, they are refusing to pay water tariffs, because they are running parallel water sources,’’ Chilenga added.

The Chairperson said parliamentary committee discussed with Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) to bring in other stakeholders apart from applying the law.

‘‘So, we have discussed with the Southern Region Water Board that we are going to engage other stakeholders in future, but the best solution would be that law should be applied because Water Resources Act empowers NWRA to seal these parallel water sources in areas where water board is operating,” he said, while questioning safety of water the lodges and hotels use through their alleged parallel lines.

Government through the SRW B successfully implemented a US$ 15.7 million water supply project, an extension of Mangochi Potable Water Supply Project to sustainably contribute to the social economic development through provision of safe water.

The Project which was funded by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Affairs K.F, stretches over a distance of 50 Kilometres from Mpondasi area at Bishop’s house to Ntakataka Turn-Off thereby supplying water to Maldeco, Makawa and Nkope market centres in between.

Board Chairperson of SRWB, Brown Mpinganjira said despite that they are currently producing enough water of over 400 00 litres per month, enterprises are not coming forth as they have their own old water systems.

‘‘First of all, it is important for people to know that here in Mangochi we have a brand-new water system which is supplying clean and quality water across the district.’’

‘‘We are therefore trying to sensitize the business enterprises along the lake in the district to understand that the water they are using are not safe, and that we have very good water for their use, and that they have an obligation to supply this good water to their customers,’’ he said.