SRWB targets 5000 free water connections

Southern Region Water Board has started connecting water to some customers who applied for the free water connection programme, which government, through the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, rolled out on April 1, this year. According to SRWB Public Relations Manager Ritta Makwangwala, the board has so far received 1200 free water connections, from its annual…

By Tiyese Monjeza

Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) has started connecting water to some customers who applied for the free water connection programme, which government, through the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, rolled out on April 1, this year.

According to SRWB Public Relations Manager Ritta Makwangwala, the board has so far received 1200 free water connections, from its annual target to connect 5000 domestic customers.

‘There are guidelines which the government introduced which we consider when determining eligible customers, so we appeal to customers to be patient. We are optimistic of connecting to around 1000 domestic customers by the end of May, a development which will help increase access to safe portable water to Malawians,’ Makwangwala said.

Makwangwala further said the Namiwawa Road rehabilitation works currently underway by the Zomba City Council has affected water supply mostly in Zomba City as a result of broken pipes during the clearing of the road.

‘Currently we are doing pipe relocations in all areas which might be affected by these road rehabilitation works. In the meantime, we have outlined some alternatives to provide water to customers in the affected locations which includes provision of water browsers. We are hopeful that in two weeks, we will be done with pipe relocation,’ Makwangwala said.

In a separate interview, St Mary resident Anne Kachala urged the board to speed up the pipe relocation works urging inadequate water supply is leading to unhygienic practices in the city.