Beneath Blantyre’s glitter, lies a water crisis in Chirimba

A woman from Blantyre’s Tapuwa area arrived at a recent community meeting with a striking symbol of the daily hardships faced by residents:

She had not bathed that morning, a decision forced upon her by the ongoing water shortages in the area.

The woman, Patricia Gabriel Kaliati, who also happens to represent Chief Suya of the area, with raw emotion, brought the dire water crisis to the forefront during the Blantyre Water Board’s (BWB) engagement with residents.

Kaliati’s distressing example of going without basic hygiene sparked deep reflection among those gathered.

“Women are not sleeping at night, they are always up and down looking for where to get water we believe this meeting is very crucial in as far as ending water scarcity in our area is concerned,” she said.

For many, the situation is no longer just an inconvenience but a daily struggle that affects their health, dignity, and quality of life.

“We are going as far as two weeks without water and even the water bowsers that are available are not enough to carter for our daily needs,” one resident Esther Msiska said, echoing the frustration that permeated the meeting.

Vice Chairperson in the councillor’s office in the area, Frank Phiri echoed similar concerns saying the meeting poses hope to members of the community considering the situation in the area.

For the community, the lack of reliable water has become a daily battle, and for some, a reminder of their inability to fulfill even the most basic human needs.

As residents voiced their frustrations, it became clear that the water shortage in Tapuwa was not just an inconvenience—it was taking a toll on physical and emotional well-being.

The Blantyre Water Board representatives acknowledged the severity of the situation, explaining that population growth, aging infrastructure, and limited resources were to blame.

BWB senior public relations officer Evelyn Khonje acknowledged the challenges faced by the communities emphasizing that their feedback has helped the board to identify solutions to resolve the water crisis.

“We have taken note of all of the concerns, some of them we were not aware meaning that this meeting has been so beneficial and we are going to take that information to our seniors and go back to the drawing board.”

Khonje explained.

The meeting, though filled with frustration, also fostered a sense of unity within the community as esidents rallied together, hoping that their voices would spark faster action.

The Blantyre Water Board’s commitment to finding solutions was acknowledged, but as the meeting ended, it was evident that the Tapuwa community remains in dire need of swift and sustainable change.