Chikwawa needs 650 new boreholes
Chikwawa district needs about 650 new boreholes and should have its 200 boreholes rehabilitated if all people are to have access to clean and portable water.
This is according to Water for People, a nonprofit international organisation which aims at ensuring that all people to have access to safe, clean and continuous water.
Public Health Specialist for Water for People Steve Kumwenda made the observation last Friday during the handover of two motor bicycles, 14 bicycles and 10 sets of borehole pump spare parts to the Chikwawa District Council.
“Water for People is in a five- year partnership agreement with the council to achieve water and sanitation coverage. The organisation is currently drilling boreholes but reaching the required number of boreholes will not only achieved by Water for People alone but also through other development partners in the district.
“In this initiative we are not only looking at covering every one through infrastructure but also critically looking at empowering communities through mechanisms and management structures at both at district and community level in order for them to access quality water health services forever, hence the donation,” said Kumwenda.
Kumwenda said since 2013, Water for people has drilled over 170 boreholes in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chapananga and has this year planned to drill 80 boreholes.
Each borehole, according to Kumwenda, costs the organisation roughly K3 million.
Principal Administrative Officer for Chikwawa District Council Annie Chilongozi said there still existed a big problem on potable water particularly in the areas of Traditional Authorities Makhuwira, Ngabu and Lundu.
“As Chikwawa district population continues to grow there is need for more boreholes that can provide safe water to the communities. For your on information this year’s floods have also contributed to the challenge of quality water as some water points have been broken and that has put pressure to already existing boreholes that provides safe water,” she said.
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