Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has been sued by about 431 residents collectively from Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu and Blantyre, demanding compensation for their land in the K17 billion Likhubula Water Supply project.

Speaking to the press, the lawyer representing the residents, Wellington Kazembe, confirmed the matter, saying the residents have also sued the contractor, SMC Infrastructure Limited, as the people were paid very little compensation for the land taken away by the contractor. “Some were not paid at all while others received very little, that’s why they have sued. Actually, the water board took more land than the land they paid for.” said Kazembe.

The lawsuit adds pressure on the water board as a 30-day ultimatum to resolve water supply challenges. As the Minister of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, Saulos Chilima ordered BWB to issue a press statement to promise Blantyre residents that water supply will stabilise by second October 2020.