Water problems hit Lilongwe city

Report by Gloria Masanza. 

Reports indicate that Malawi’s Capital city Lilongwe has been hit by a water crisis.

The water problem is said to have entered its fourth day today, Wednesday.

Some of the areas which have been affected are populous areas of Mchesi, Kawale, Area 22, Chilinde, Area 23, Biwi and some parts of Lilongwe Old town.

Spot checks conducted by this reporter show that people are travelling long distances to fetch water.

The crisis has also affected people who operate restaurants and those who sell drinking water and other food stuffs.

Lilongwe Water Board Public Relations officer Masauko Ngwaluko was quoted by local media, as attributing the problem to the bursting of three main pumps in the city, due to pressure.

However, Ngwaluko said the board is fixing the broken pumps, and promised that some areas will start receiving water by the end of today.

Ngwaluko, however, said that some selected townships like Biwi, Kamuzu Barracks and Mchesi, will not receive water very soon, because they are situated in high density places.

Recently, the Capital city was also hit by the water shortage, after its main supplying tank burst.

The water problem in Malawi has been on-going and most people have accused management of the country’s water of laxity.

Early this year, residents of the commercial city of Blantyre also experienced water problems, which went on for over three months.

The Blantyre water board said that time, the problem was caused by aging equipment at its Chileka pumping station, where most of the equipment there was said to be in use for a long time