Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has launched a Five-year Strategic Plan (2020-2025) which aims at providing best services to residents within Blantyre City and surrounding areas.

Speaking during the launch of the strategic plan on Monday in the city, the water boards chairperson, George Mnesa, said they decided to launch the five-year plan to counter increasing social and economic challenges the organisation is facing due to urbanisation and the hostile economic operating environment.

“We do not have enough [funds] to cover our monthly bills and at the moment, we owe ESCOM K24 billion accumulated in a space of two years.

“We have asked government to help up settle this bill so that we can be operational and pay the monthly bills properly,” said Mnesa.

Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources, Nancy Tembo, who was guest of honour at the launch function, said the issue of raising water tariffs should not be a focus point, but rather making sure that the services being offered are satisfactory.

On bailing out BWB, the minister said the matter is in the hands of the Ministry of Finance, but her ministry is currently focusing on helping the water board to reduce its electricity bill.

Source:Mana