In a demonstration of the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring universal access to clean drinking water, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Sidik Mia, yesterday visited Champira and Msaka communities in Mzimba, where she expressed satisfaction with the successful rehabilitation of the Champira gravity-fed piped water system and the Msaka solar-powered water system.
The minister’s tour followed her participation in an agricultural conference in Lilongwe, where she stood in for the Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, a conference that was opened by President Lazarus Chakwera at the BICC.
In an interview after the site visits, Minister Mia conveyed her delight upon hearing firsthand accounts confirming that the local communities now have access to clean and safe water.
She underscored that these efforts exemplify the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to realizing President Chakwera’s vision embodied in the Malawi 2063 Vision thematic agenda of ensuring universal access to clean drinking water for all Malawians by a short-term mark of the year 2030.
Mia highlighted that the combined efforts of the schemes are now providing clean and safe water to a total of 140,000 people in the areas under Senior Chief Mabulabo and part of Kasungu North.
“I am delighted to witness the successful implementation of the Msaka and Champhira water schemes, which are now delivering clean water to 20,000 and 120,000 people respectively. My ministry remains committed to supporting President Lazarus Chakwera’s vision for Malawi to achieve access to clean water by 2030,” she said.
The Minister also expressed gratitude to the World Bank for financing the project, noting that the funding includes provisions for training Water User Associations linked with the Champhira and Msaka water schemes to ensure long-term sustainability.
Taking a broader view, it is evident that the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, under President Chakwera’s leadership, is actively advancing access to clean and safe water for all Malawians. Significant strides have been registered, including the rehabilitation of the Kamuzu Dam II in Malingunde, Lilongwe, and the implementation of major water projects in Karonga, Nkhatabay, and Mangochi, alongside various piped water and solar-powered systems nationwide, similar to those in Msaka in Mzimba. This is before counting a landmark water project of Salima/Lilongwe Water Supply which has since kicked off on implementation.
