Water shortage hits Malawi's commercial city

Malawi's commercial city of Blantyre has been hit by water shortage. This has not only affected households and industrial productions but also some schools had to be closed before lunch on Monday due to water scarcity. Several townships and areas in Blantyre have gone without water for about three weeks.

Women fetching dirty water

A resident of one of the townships in Blantyre, Mwai Chipondamthengo was quoted by the country’s local papers as saying that three weeks had elapsed since his area started experiencing water shortage.

Some residents have criticised Blantyre Water Board of its failure to properly supply water and accused it of only concentrating on bills.

However in its Press release Tuesday, Blantyre Water Board apologised to its valued customers for the interruption of water supply which they said started Monday.

The Board attributed the problem to the lowering of water levels in Malawi’s biggest river Shire from which they draw water.

This interruption was caused by the lowering of the Shire levels. The lowered levels came as an emergency and was beyond our control,” said the Malawi government in its statement.

The water firm further said that its board was only made aware of the problem on Monday.

“After further investigation we were informed that out counter-parts Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) had lowered levels in order to repair their intake screens.”

Blantyre Water Board said they were currently doing all they can to restore water supply. “We are asking all customers to continue bearing with us during this time and sincerely apologise for the grave inconvenience this is causing,” said the statement.

This is not the first time the commercial city has been affected by water shortage.

Recently the city also went without water for almost a week after Escom also reduced the water levels where Blantyre Water Board also draws its water.