BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR
Government has commended the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union (EU) for the financial support the organizations are providing to the country in improving health and quality of life for Malawians in the country’s major cities.
Minister of Irrigation and Water Development, Richie Muheya, made the remarks Thursday in Blantyre when he inaugurated the Malawi peri-urban water and sanitation project, which EIB and EU are funding in conjunction with the Malawi government.
Muheya said the project was crucial as it was in line with government development priorities in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS).
Said the minister: “The Malawi government welcomes this landmark project and strong support from the EIB and EU. This will significantly improve both the health and quality of life for Malawians in the country’s main cities. This is in line with the Government of Malawi’s Development priorities in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy”.
EIB Vice President responsible for Africa, Plutarchos Sakellaris, said, his bank was with Lilongwe and Blantyre Water Boards to improve access to clean water and sanitation for Malawians.
“This is a key project demonstrating the EIB’s strong engagement to improving the quality of life of people across Africa,” said Sakellaris.
And in his remarks, EU Ambassador to Malawi, Alexander Baum stated that the programme represents a unique combination of loan and grant funding particularly suitable for the water sector. Baum said the project will significantly improve piped water and sanitation services for people living in low-income areas of Blantyre and Lilongwe.
The project will seen 723,000 additional people receiving safe drinking water and 468,000 people in low-income areas will have access to basic sanitation facilities, according to the EU chief.
Principal Secretary for Irrigation and Water Development, Sandram Maweru, said the Malawi peri-urban water and sanitation project will help in upgrading clean water provision and sanitation to international standards and improve services for citizens in Blantyre and Lilongwe for years to come.
The project will include upgrading key water and sanitation infrastructure and institutional capacity-development. In addition to the two water boards, financial support will be given to local NGOs advising on project implementation. The overall programme will also include an HIV/AIDS initiative.
The total project cost is €32 million and will be financed through an EU Water Facility Grant of €14.9 million, a subsidized €15.7 million loan from the European Investment Bank, technical assistance and support from the Malawi government.
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