Dowa Council calls partners to migrate from boreholes to reticulated system

By Vincent Gunde

Dowa District Council’s Director of Planning and Development Phillimon Maseko, has called on partners implementing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects in the district to migrate boreholes to reticulated system.

Maseko said sinking boreholes is more costly as it requires huge finances in terms of rehabilitations than piped water supply which is easy and quick way of uplifting living standards of people.Dowa Council Water sector conducts DCT validation on water points

He said WASH partners have a noble duty to play to the communities in the district by ensuring that issues of WASH are prioritized for every one to access good and quality water.

Speaking during a District (WASH) Coordinating Team (DCT) meeting held at the Boma, Maseko said water is life, if one is buying water, is buying life saying issues of clean water supply and management must not be under looked hence the council and partners to work together in a unity of purpose.

Maseko said many people defined Dzaleka as a Refugee Camp but now, it is beyond a camp urging partners to work together in addressing issues of WASH in the camp and outside the camp.WHH hands over 60 boreholes to Dedza communities

He said beside the water challenge which is a crisis in the Dzaleka Camp, there are reports that many houses do not have toilets, saying this is a threat to the outbreak of water – borne related diseases in the camp and can also affect the hosts community.

The Director urged partners to widen their observation not only in the Dzaleka Camp but outside the camp to ensure that issues related to WASH are addressed in as soon as yesterday.Central Poultry Pledges K400 Million Towards Borehole Rehabilitation Initiative

He commended one WASH partner in the Dzaleka Camp – Weit Hunger Hilfe ( WWH) for coming up with good initiatives of waste disposal and management at the dumping site saying the council is welcoming the initiative urging partners and the water sector to support the initiative.

Maseko said issues to do with energy can be addressed from the same waste management saying the organic waste produced can be biogas to produce electricity which refugees and the hosts community can use for cooking thereby reducing pressure on the district’s environment.

” There’s a great need to enhance re – afforestation to replace the cut down trees in and around the Dzaleka Camp,” he said.Dowa and Ntchisi Communities Welcome Land Adjudication Under SAMALA Project

On K5 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Maseko said a large share of the fund has gone to the water sector saying the council alone will not manage it, partners will be incorporated in the management in terms of expertise to train water point committees in the catchment they are serving the people in the district.