The Government of Malawi has reiterated its determination to ensure the timely completion of the country’s water flagship project. The Salima–Lilongwe water supply project, a multi-billion-kwacha initiative designed to ease water shortages in the capital and surrounding communities, is being executed by a giant construction and engineering company – Khato Civils.
Minister of Agriculture and Water Development, Roza Mbilizi, toured the project sites at Lifuwu in Salima and Katengeza in Dowa District, where construction of a 125-kilometre pipeline is underway. The pipeline will be supported by three pumping stations, six reservoirs, and modern water treatment facilities along its route.
Speaking during the inspection, Khato Civils’ Financial Director, Mr. Pryde Phiri, confirmed that the project is now more than 40 per cent complete. He noted, however, that progress has been slowed by foreign exchange shortages, which have hampered the importation of critical materials.
“Our project is heavily reliant on imported material and the problem of forex has significant impact on this project by slowing our progress,” Mr. Phiri said. “We have received an undertaking from Government to allocate forex, and once that is done, we expect significant progress. If supported, the project should be complete in the first quarter of 2027. But if financing and forex allocation slow down, it will be a challenge to meet that timeline.”
Minister Mbilizi, visibly impressed by the progress on site, praised the contractor and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to prioritising the project.
“Lilongwe needs safe, portable water, and this project is vital not just for the capital but for communities along the pipeline,” she said. “I am happy to see reservoirs nearly complete and pumping stations progressing well. This is something we should be proud of, as it is being implemented by a Malawian contractor and was initiated by the Democratic Progressive Party.”
Addressing concerns over forex allocation, the Minister assured that the Government is treating the project as a national priority.
“We are very committed. This is a project we started and we want to see it through, maybe even earlier than March next year. Forex is indeed an issue, but we are working hard to ensure this project is prioritised because water is life for our people,” she said.
The Salima–Lilongwe water supply project is one of Malawi’s largest infrastructure undertakings in recent years, aimed at securing reliable access to clean water for the fast-growing capital city.
