The joint stakeholders’ meeting between authorities from the Kasungu Municipal and District Councils, as well as concerned citizens from the Maplot area in Kasungu Municipality, has resolved to suspend the water demonstrations that were scheduled for April 15 in the district.
Concerned citizens from the Maplot area in Kasungu Municipality planned to hold peaceful demonstrations over persistent water challenges in the municipality.
The development prompted the call for a stakeholders’ meeting, where roundtable discussions on the matter were held.
Speaking on Monday after the meeting, the demonstrations committee secretary, Kondwani Kazembe, said that following discussions with relevant authorities they have agreed to suspend the demonstrations to allow authorities to respond and act on the grievances raised.
Kazembe added that the area has been experiencing acute persistent water challenges since November 2025, a development he described as worrisome.
“We are not convinced with the responses from the authorities. However, we have agreed to suspend the demonstrations. As you know, it has been six months without running water despite several efforts to engage the Central Region Water Board authorities, hence our decision to plan the demonstrations,” he said.
In his remarks, Kasungu District Commissioner Dr. Lawford Palani, who led the discussions, said he will present the grievances to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development, as well as the Central Region Water Board, for urgent action.
“They have listed at least 10 serious issues that I will deliver to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development. Some require short-term action, while others need long-term solutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Kasungu Municipality Constituency, Noel Mkubwi, who was also in attendance, appealed to authorities from the Central Region Water Board (CRWB) to introduce prepaid water meters within the municipality to address exorbitant water billing.
He said that due to persistent water challenges in the district, his constituents are paying water bills despite not receiving water from the supplier.
“Of course, we have lined up a number of initiatives under the Constituency Development Fund to address the water problem. However, it is my plea to the CRWB to introduce alternatives such as mobile water bowsers and develop a feedback mechanism to provide updates to the public,” said Mkubwi.
Meanwhile, CRWB Scheme Manager for Kasungu, Jailas Gondwe, attributed the challenges to a dilapidated water system and the area’s topography, among other factors affecting the effective and sufficient supply of water in the district.
“Our system was last updated in 2014, which was a long time ago. However, we intend to install a tank in the Maplot area to overcome challenges related to topography, among others,” he said.
Besides water infrastructure challenges, the concerned citizens also cited inaccurate meter readings, poor communication between the board and its customers, as well as rude and arrogant behaviour by some meter-reading staff, among their grievances.
