Karonga, Malawi – The Karonga Town Water Supply Project, a key public infrastructure initiative in northern Malawi, is now complete and ready for commissioning—marking a major step forward in the country’s efforts to expand access to clean and reliable water.
Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Sidik Mia, visited the border district on an official working tour to inspect the rehabilitated, upgraded, and expanded facility yesterday. She described the project as a milestone in the national water agenda and praised President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera for his bold leadership and long-term vision for Malawi.
“This would not have been possible without the steadfast leadership of President Chakwera, who established a dedicated Ministry of Water and Sanitation to prioritise the WASH sector,” she said. “He remains the only leader with the clarity and courage to take Malawi confidently toward 2030.”
The Karonga system has seen water production increase from 12 million to 30 million litres per day, with storage capacity rising sharply from 1.5 million to 10 million litres. The distribution network has been extended over 100 kilometres, connecting previously underserved areas including Nyungwe, Pusi, Mlare, Mwenitete, and Kasoba.
The project also includes a free water connection initiative targeting 15,000 households in Karonga alone. Over 1,500 connections have already been completed, with installation teams working seven days a week to meet demand.
Designed with long-term resilience in mind, the upgraded system is built to serve a projected population of 184,000 by the year 2040.
Minister Mia commended traditional leaders for their support, singling out Paramount Chief Gomani V, who chairs the Northern Region Water Board, and Paramount Chief Kyungu of Karonga for their collaboration. She also extended appreciation to the Board’s management and technical staff for their role in the successful implementation.
“The Chakwera administration is turning policy into impact,” Mia added. “This is how we build a Malawi that leaves no one behind.”
