Nkhatabay Water Project impresses Chakwera

Government has expressed satisfaction with the progress registered on the construction of Northern Region Water board reservoir in Nkhatabay district.

The remarks have been made by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera when he inspected the construction site and other development projects in the district.

He said the work being done is of excellence and the project will go a long way in ensuring access of portable water to people of Nkhatabay

Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) started constructing the Nkhata Bay Water Supply and Sanitation project in 2020 which was expected to benefit about 150 000 residents of Nkhata Bay Boma and surrounding areas.

The works which were carried out by China Civil Construction Company, cost  K21.7 billion

In October 2018, the African Development Bank Group approved a $15 million grant from the African Development Fund for the project. While this only covers for half of the estimated project cost, other funds will come from Opec Fund for International Development (a $12 million loan) and the Malawi Government ($3.4 million).

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has suspended disbursement of funds to the Nkhata Bay Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project over concerns of the contractor not complyingwith health and safety requirements.

The suspension follows an accident that claimed the life of a boy who allegedly drowned in one of the open pipeline trenches at Chilambwe site following incessant rains that filled up the trenches before pipes were laid.