Central Region Water Board (CRWB) says it needs $583.5 million (about K590 billion) to embark on its priority projects aimed at supplying water to over 700 000 people in various districts in the region.

CRWB chief executive officer John Makwenda revealed this on Sunday when the board met the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change to discuss the water board’s efforts in increasing access to clean water for more people, including those in rural areas.

Makwenda: Funding is a huge challenge

He said the board has over 12 priority projects it wishes were done soon to increase access to potable water both in rural and urban areas.

Makwenda admitted that it is a huge challenge funding the project which is planned for implementation within five years and targeting over 700 000 people at a cost of $583.5 million.

He said: “We wish the projects were done as soon as yesterday. We want to reach more people with water, not just in towns but in villages as well.

“But we need to invest in these big projects. We need money to do these projects.”

Among the projects are Dwangwa Multipurpose Dam to supply water to Kasungu at an estimated cost of $173 million (about K185 billion), a multipurpose dam for Dedza and other parts of Lilongwe estimated at $111.5 million (K113 billion) and Ntcheu Water Project estimated at $73 million (about K75 billion), among others.

Makwenda said if government could fund three of the projects through the national budget, it would help the board to have more projects implemented.

“We tried last year to have the Nkhamenya project which is worth about K10 billion to be financed through budget but we were not successful,” he said.

However, the CRWB CEO informed the committee that the board is in the process of implementing the Kholongo Water project in Dowa District worth about K66 billion, which will supply water to about 153 000 people in Mponela and other areas, funded by government through loans sourced locally.

Ministry of Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Elias Chimulambe admitted that the board has not had much support from government and donors for its water projects investment.

“But let me call on the board to invest in water projects with the revenue it generates,” he said.

Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change chairperson Welani Chilenga pledged that the committee will lobby other legislators to ensure that government provides financial support to the board for the projects.

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