Lilongwe City Mayor, Councillor Esther Sagawa, is leading a delegation on a benchmarking visit to Zambia, aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of water and sanitation management in Lilongwe.
The delegation is collaborating with the Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company to explore policies, institutional financing, and technical strategies for city-wide sanitation development and management.
During a courtesy visit with the Managing Director of Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company, Sagawa pointed out the importance of improving service performance in Lilongwe, especially in the face of rapid urbanisation.
“The challenges we face in Lilongwe are similar to those of Lusaka. We are keen to learn how they have successfully managed increased customer demand while maintaining quality service standards,” she said.
The Mayor said Lilongwe is facing a significant strain on its infrastructure due to rapid urbanisation and the expansion of informal settlements. This has resulted in enormous pressure on water supply and sanitation services, with the city’s sanitation sector severely constrained across the entire service chain.
Lilongwe City Council, which manages sanitation and sewerage services, is struggling with inefficiencies in capacity.
In response to these challenges, the Government of Malawi secured financing from the World Bank in 2017 for the Lilongwe Water and Sanitation Project, which is set to be completed in December 2024. The project aims to address the city’s infrastructural gaps, especially in water and sanitation services.
According to Sagawa, the benchmarking visit will also serve as a key component of the Mayor’s Clean and Green campaign, which focuses on improving on-site sanitation and solid waste management. She further said the field visits and strategic meetings in Lusaka will provide her team with valuable insights into successful sanitation practices.
The delegation believes by tackling these critical urban development issues, Lilongwe City Council is not only improving public health and the urban environment but also contributing to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, the efforts align with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), reflecting the city’s commitment to creating a sustainable and healthy future for its residents.
