Mzuzu Residents Demonstrate Against NRWB’s Arrogance

Angry community members of Geisha, Chipambo and Kazando in the city of Mzuzu took to the street on Thursday morning demonstrating against failure by the Northern region Water Board (NRWB) to comply with the Human Rights Assessment Report demanding compensation to households affected by the boards Mzuzu Water Efficiency Project.

Upon the irate demonstrators arrival at the Board’s premises their noise disrupted operations as it was aimed at forcing compliance with the MHRC determination whose time frame expired on both the two occasions the report provides.

Chairperson of the aggrieved communities, Lessie Mauluka described the determination as a fair assessment recommending compensation to communities affected by the Water Efficiency Project being implemented by NRWB but surprisingly the board has until this day not complied with the requirements of the determination.

“The Board should comply with the MHRC report, we were given a leeway to proceed taking our report any where, procedures should be followed in accordance with the laws,” Mauluka said.

*Representative from the DS’s office received the petition*

Mauluka further revealed that the report from MHRC indicated that the commission was not adequately funded hence giving the community members to deal with the board in the manner it pleases whether taking it to the Ombudsman hence taking the first step which is demonstrations.

Speaking after receiving the petition NRWB Public Relations Manager, Edward Nyirenda refuted the allegations, saying the Board has fully complied with the recommendations and have already sent MHRC a report on what has been done so far.

“We are implementing our projects in accordance with the law, we haven’t had any problems with community members from other project implementation areas let alone Geisha, Kazando and Chipambo, the MHRC is still reviewing our assessments so it’s surprising to see people demonstrating,” Nyirenda said