Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Blantyre Water Board (BWB), Yeremiah Chihana, has made an immediate impression on his first day in office after directly engaging frustrated residents from Chirimba who stormed the institution’s offices over persistent water supply challenges.
The residents, visibly dissatisfied, presented a formal complaint highlighting what they described as prolonged neglect by the water utility body. According to the group, repeated attempts to seek intervention from BWB officials in the past had yielded no results, leaving communities struggling without reliable access to water despite continued billing.
“We came here last year, but nothing was done. What is shocking is that the bills keep rising, yet there is no water coming out of our taps,” said Kilinti Basikolo, one of the affected residents.
In a move that signaled a shift in leadership approach, Chihana personally received the residents and escorted them into a private meeting room, where he listened to their concerns in detail. Sources present during the engagement described the atmosphere as open and responsive, with the CEO assuring the residents that immediate action would be taken.
Chihana reportedly committed to resolving the water supply issue within two hours, a bold assurance that has already sparked public interest and scrutiny over his ability to deliver swift results in a sector long plagued by inefficiencies.
Further demonstrating a hands-on leadership style, Chihana instructed that a BWB vehicle transport the residents back to their homes. In an unexpected gesture, he also gave each individual K10,000 from his own pocket, referring to it as “lunch money.”
The residents, who initially arrived in frustration, left the premises expressing satisfaction with the reception and renewed hope that their grievances would finally be addressed.
Chihana’s first-day actions have drawn mixed reactions from observers, with some praising his direct engagement and empathy, while others caution that sustainable solutions to Blantyre’s chronic water supply issues will require systemic reforms beyond symbolic gestures.
As pressure mounts, all eyes will be on the new BWB leadership to see whether this early momentum translates into long-term improvements in water service delivery across the city.
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