Fresh calls for stand-alone water ministry
Non-governmental organisations, under the umbrella of Water and Environmental Sanitation Network (Wesnet), have asked President Lazarus Chakwera to consider formulating a stand-alone Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
The move comes at a time Mzuzu University (Mzuni) research findings have indicated that access to potable water remains a challenge among some people in the country.
The research covered such areas as water treatment, waste management and investigations into the cause of waterborne diseases in under-five children.
Wesnet Programmes Manager Hopeson Chaima said the Mzuni research findings have vindicated them on the need to have a stand-alone water ministry.
“The research papers have revealed that some people still don’t have access to clean water and the recommendations are brilliant.
“However, for such a recommendation to work, there must be seriousness and the first thing we are doing is to push for the creation of our own ministry to handle such policy-related recommendations,” Chaima said.
Mzimba South District Environmental Health Officer Edward Gondwe said there was a need to address challenges such as waterborne diseases, which he said sometime emanate from the use of unsafe water.
