Malawi and China Construction collaborate on Lambilambi dam project

The Ministry of Water and Sanitation has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Co. Ltd for the development of the Lambilambi Dam project in Mzuzu.

The primary objective of this MoU is to establish collaboration between the Malawian government and China Construction in securing concessional financing and designing and constructing a new water source at Lambilambi in Chikangawa Forest.

Additionally, the project aims to expand the water supply system for Mzuzu City and its surrounding areas.

Liana Kakhobwe Chapota who is Deputy Minister of Water Sanitation, representing the Malawian government, emphasised the importance of ensuring that every Malawian has access to affordable and sustainable water and improved sanitation by 2030, in alignment with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and Malawi Agenda 2063.

Chapota noted that projects like the Lambilambi Dam are essential not only for meeting the growing water demands of Mzuzu City but also for assisting marginalized communities in Mzimba District.

“The signing of this MoU therefore marks a major milestone in the development of the water sector in the country. It will strengthen our ability to deliver on our respective mandates in a mutually enriching way,” Chapota explained.

Tang Yingchu, Managing Director for China Construction, expressed the company’s commitment to securing financing for this critical dam project.

Currently, the Mzuzu City Water Supply System serves approximately 70% of its population, providing water to 143,143 people. However, the system relies solely on Lunyangwa Dam, which has limited storage capacity. As a result, there is a significant mismatch between the current water demand and the dam’s capacity.

The Lambilambi Dam Project is seen as an urgent necessity to meet the increasing water demand. It promises to transform lives, support the agricultural sector, and ensure the community’s healthier and more prosperous future. Once constructed, the dam will have a storage capacity of 16 million cubic meters and benefit not only Mzuzu City but also surrounding areas, ultimately serving a population of 1.2 million people.