Maravi

Chipata residents petition council over sub-standard water service

Chipata residents petition council over sub-standard water service
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sunday June 15, 2008 [04:00]

SOME Chipata residents have petitioned Chipata Municipal Council over the sub-standard services offered by Chipata Water and Sewerage Company. According to the petition dated June 5, 2008 and addressed to the acting town clerk and copied to Chipata mayor, Eastern Province permanent secretary, Chipata Water and Sewerage Company board chairperson and the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce, the over 176 residents stated that they decided to write the council because it was the major shareholder in the water company.

“Our concern is that for quite some time now, water supply to some parts of the town has been erratic at best and when we have inquired as to the reasons, we have been told that it is due to low electricity power at the dam,” the residents stated.

They stated that since the problem started, the water utility had never informed the people of any efforts aimed at addressing the matter.

“We have been experiencing low power supply in Chipata for such a long time now and how is it that only now this has a bearing on water supply? When we visit the offices of the company, generally we tend to find that senior management is not available as they are out of town and the attitude of the rest of the staff is more of ‘couldn’t care’ rather than ‘concerned’. Do they not understand that their salaries are being paid from monies realised by providing utility services,” the petition read in part.

The residents hoped that the council would intervene and bring some sanity because the matter related to hygiene and sanitation. And acting Chipata town clerk Noel Muchimba confirmed having received the petition.

“I have seen the petition and I have since asked the managing director of Chipata Water and Sewerage to write a report in line with the people’s complaints,” Muchimba said.

When contacted, Chipata Water and Sewerage Company managing director Bernard Mwewa could not comment on the matter.

Labels: CHIPATA, GOVERNANCE, UTILITIES, WATER

posted by MrK @ 6:23 PM