District Commissioner for Zomba District Council, Fredrick Musandide Missinjo, has promised people of Chinguma, Ngotangota and Lungazi of clean and safe water.
Missinjo made the pledge during an engagement meeting with people of the three areas.
The DC said he was saddened to learn that people across Lake Chilwa were buying drinking water from Mozambique and that at times, used unsafe water from unprotected sources.
“Of all the problems I have heard, water is the most challenging and I take it as my priority. We need to find lasting solutions to this problem,” he said.
He said among the many options, water could be pumped from some surrounding rivers and purified for human use.
“We will erect tanks so that people of this area enjoy their health right,” Missinjo emphasised.
Penjani Chunga, Chief Health and Prevention Officer for Zomba, said by prioritising provision of clean and safe water, the district has a chance to eradicate waterborne diseases common in these areas.
Councillor for Chilwa Ward Ibrahim Kawina said people from the area have suffered for years and that providing them with clean and safe water would relieve them of several illnesses.
“A bucket of 20ltrs is sold at K1000, which means people need to have cash for them to buy clean and safe water. For those who do not have money are forced to drink water from the lake which is not safe for human consumption,” he said.
Meanwhile, traditional Authority Nkumbira has pledged to work with the government to implement the water development project.
By Solister Mogha, MANA
