The President was speaking at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe during commemorations marking World Water Day. 

President Mutharika said the Lilongwe Water Board and Blantyre Water Board started way back in the 40s and that by now, there was need for things to have changed.

The Malawi leader further said government would “pay any price to make water accessible” to everyone but he said for this to happen there was need for every Malawian’s participation, quoting the adage: fumbi ndiwe mwini.

The President also bemoaned the low levels of water in the country’s rivers and lakes which he attributed to wanton cutting down of trees, hence he called on all Malawians to plant more trees.

Earlier on Tuesday before addressing the gathering at BICC, President Mutharika toured and commissioned the new Lilongwe Water Board’s treatment plant at the board’s head offices.

The commissioned water treatment plant has the capacity of producing a total of 30 000 cubic meters of water every day against the 95 cubic meters of water produced using the old water treatment plant.  

The President also toured a number of stands where various players in the water sector demonstrated the roles they play in the water development and management.

The theme for the commemorations was, Water for People, Water By People.