Chiefs Angry About Water Project Delay

By Draxon Maloya

Chiefs in Mangochi have given a seven day ultimatum to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) challenging the implementation of Nkhuzi-Bay – Mangochi water supply project to vacate the injunction they obtained.

National Youth Network on Climate Change for Environment and Advocacy and the Movement for Environmental Action obtained an injunction restraining Southern Region Water Board from executing the project arguing it threatens wildlife.

Chiefs led by Senior Chief Namkumba accompanied by members of the Forum for Social Economic Development for Mangochi (FOSEMA) called a press conference condemning the injunction.

“Women are walking very long distances to draw water, and yet someone thinks animals are more important than humans,” querried Senior Chief Namkumba.

FOSEMA chairperson, Macdonald Sembereka have threatened to hold demonstrations if the Court injunction is not vacated

“Water is a basic need, there is no need to prioritize wildlife when people have no portable safe drinking water, we shall go to the street and demonstrate if the injunction is not vacated,” Sembereka said.

Meanwhile, Member of parliament for Mangochi Monkey-Bay, Ralph Jooma has expressed concerns with the injunction which was obtained by three civil society organizations stopping the Kuwait water aid project from continuing.

This is a Kuwait government aid project worth K16 billion whose grace period is coming to an end and the government will start paying back the dept soon.

The government through Southern Water Board started this project in 2016 with the loan which was approved by members of parliament for government to borrow from the Kuwait Republic and it was supposed to end in July this year (2022)