People in Nchalo and surrounding areas will now have access to fresh water for consumption after Gardaworld teamed up with Illovo Sugar Malawi to fund the project at K180 million.
Nchalo Estate acting general manager Lengster Mlenga said they were happy to see that the project had been completed after it was delayed.
Illovo has pumped in K60 million while Gardaworld contributed K122 million which the company secured from its head offices based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He also commended Gardaworld for partnering Illovo to fund the project.
However, Mlenga appealed to people in the community to desist from vandalising the company’s property such as pipes.
“It is great to see that our dream to bring safe and clean water to people around Nchalo Estate has come true. People in this area have been suffering for a long time to have fresh water because the water here is salty,” he said.
Mlenga said the company oversaw the construction of the project through technical and material support.
“Our contribution to the Lengwe Water Project includes the provision of potable water from Lengwe Compound to the Lengwe National Park water tank, installation of piping, construction of a plinth [base] for the water tank, supply and installation of two pumps, provision of machine hours for crane, grader, labour, supervision, technical and structural engineering support and stakeholder engagements,” he said.
During the handover on Friday, Guardaworld country director Ganizani Kamchiputu said the donation was in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility.
He said they sought funding from the company’s head offices in Dubai in support of Illovo where they have been working in providing security services.
Said Kamchiputo: “We have been working with Illovo for quite a number of years and we saw the need that people in Nchalo and the community do lack good water because the water here is saline [salty] which means it’s not good for drinking.
He also appealed to beneficiaries to take care of the four kiosks and other facilities.
Commenting on the project, Paramount Chief Lundu commended Illovo and Garda World for helping people in the area to have clean water.
He also cautioned his subjects against vandalising Illovo facilities such as irrigation as a token of appreciation.
“Now that we have water kiosks here, we should avoid going to Nchalo Estate staff house lines with the aim of drawing water,” he said.
