As indicated earlier, after concluding our meetings with district councils based in the Southern Region I also met with five Parastatals to follow up on outstanding matters from our previous meetings.
BLANTYRE WATER BOARD (BWB)
Sometime back in September, BWB had committed to improve water supply in the city following a public outcry on the persistent erratic water supply that obtained during that period.
From what they presented today, BWB has been putting a lot of attention to the problem to ensure that the situation is improved. The most affected zones were Limbe, Soche and Kabula.
Among other causes, BWB attributed the erratic supply to higher demand than current supply especially in unplanned areas where demand exceeds the design capacity of pipelines as well as high elevations not considered in initial designs.
However, BWB has reported that supply has improved in Kabula Zone’s Chirimba Ntoso, Chileka Chatha-Maela, Ndirande Malabada; Limbe zone’s Maselema, Kanjedza Project and Limbe central; Soche Zone’s Baluti-Nancholi and Manyowe.
This followed several interventions that included rationing of supply, updating pipes, community policing against vandalism, supply from alternative tanks as well as rehabilitation of pumping equipment.
However, BWB has indicated that some areas like Ndirande Newlines, Chigumula, Namiwawa and Sunnyside still require more improvements.
Nonetheless, the water board needs a lot of work to completely turn around the situation from its current state of its financial health. Thus, in the long term, we have recommended a turnaround strategy which management must present to the board for approval before we come in as Reforms to see how we can help towards implementation.
In the same vein, I have advised the management to be the first to make sacrifices considering the financial situation that the water board is currently in. For example, it will be counter productive for management to be buying top of the range vehicles at a time we are putting our efforts together to put BWB back on its feet.
ESCOM
Escom reported the finalization of its two year turnaround strategy paper which we had recommended in September in a bid to turn around the organisation from loss making that largely came as a result of high operational costs and toxic politics that crept into the corporation.
With the strategy in place now, ESCOM will, along side EGENCO, see the implementation of the Malawi/Zambia and Malawi/Mozambique power interconnection project that will comfortably boost the power sector, work on reducing operational costs and fleet management among other crucial key factors in the strategy.
EGENCO
Egenco reported on the projects that were imminent for take off. One of them is the 1.3 MW Likoma and Chizumulu solar project to be finalised this week that will lead to massive reduction of operational costs from the diesel generators on the island.
It is also encouraging to note that EGENCO is projecting a smooth power supply this rainy season as they expect no water level/flows challenges this year.
We also had the Public Private Partnership Partnership Commission (PPPC) and Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) who also shared their progress on a number assignments that were given.
PPPC are on course with their game changing projects across the country to be implemented at different timelines and so too is Admarc but we have also called for a holistic turnaround strategy to redeem the corporation.
I must commend the leadership of these Parastatals for the commitment and discipline shown to go the extra miles to serve the people of Malawi. We all must work hard and work smart to serve the people out there who are our bosses.
Have a good evening.