Linda Kwanjana – Malawi Exclusive
Rhema Institute for Development Executive Director, Innocent Semu, has commissioned an ambitious K80million piped water project at Dowa Turn off Trade Centre in Dowa district.
Semu said for a long time people in the area have been drinking contaminated water together with livestock.
Semu said for the first time in this country, people will be using water credit cards provided to draw water from the taps in their homes and water kiosks put up at Dowa turn off. “This is technology at its best because we can switch off the tap while at the office and monitor water levels using laptops and phones,” He said.
Semu was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Local Government who is also Member of Parliament for Dowa South East Constituency Halima Daud.
Daudi said the piped water project at Dowa Turn off and surrounding communities will help people with easy access to clean and safe water thereby reducing water borne diseases.
A multi million water project which Rhema has been championing at Dowa Turn off in the area of Traditional Authority Mkukula has started earlier this year with laying of pipes and digging the drainages.
“When you have clean water, one is protected from water borne diseases that is why we decided to bring the project to this arrear.” Said Semu.
It was also emphasized by Semu that his organization also engaged Central Region Water Board which has exclusive water rights in this area and that this parastatal already gave them a go ahead with their project as they have no any plans to extend their provision of piped water to this area for now.
Group Village Headman Thambwe of this area of Traditional Authority Mkukula expressed his gratitudes for the project saying it will go a long way in eradicating water problems his subjects have been experiencing all along.
“Our wives spend 2-3 hours down there the river fetching water and they come back very tired that they fail to execute other activities that may develop our households and with this clean water coming at our disposal, surely I am very grateful for this and I support this wholeheartedly.” GVH Thambwe said.
Government officials from the department of water at Dowa district did their survey and identified a place where this water plant will be planted.
The project will see people having water taps in their homes and they will be asked to pay a little amount that will be used for some maintenance activities for sustainability of the project.
RHEMA Institute for Development does alot of activities ranging from Agriculture, Social services to education services and currently it is carrying our it’s activities mostly in Dowa and Lilongwe.