An irate community has blocked Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, George Chaponda from going to Likhubula in Mulanje citing failure by government to work with the community in a project where Blantyre Water Board (BWB) wants to pump water to supply to water stressed Blantyre City.

Chaponda, in the company of PS for Agriculture, Erica Maganga and Member of Parliament for Mulanje Pasani Angie Kaliati, were stopped from proceeding to the project site by women and men carrying branches. The people demanded that unless government works with the community to plant trees in the area, the project won’t materialise.

They are also demanding that they benefit from the potable water that will be pumped from Likhubula to Blantyre.

This is not the first time for a Minister to be chased from angry villagers. Earlier this year, the then Minister of information Jappie Mhango was chased from a funeral in Rumphi.

Mhango was being accused blocking funds to support the deceased while in hospital.