Malawi Farmer Builds Hydro Power Plant to Bring Electricity and Clean Water to Rural Community
The innovation, which also allows for access to clean water, is particularly significant as Malawi struggles to provide power to its citizens.
Malawi: A 33-year-old farmer, Chimwemwe Mwenefumbo, from Nkhata Bay district in Malawi, has brought relief to his community by building a hydropower plant that generates and supplies electricity to local residents, writes Susan Moyo.
The innovation, which also allows for access to clean water, is particularly significant as Malawi struggles to provide power to its citizens.
According to a report by the Japan International Development Agency (JICA) in 2022, Malawi has an electrification rate of just 12.4%, with rural areas having access to electricity at only 3.9%.
"It has taken me many years to come up with this hydropower station, but I did not give up because I wanted to save my community from electricity and water woes," said Mwenefumbo.
"I am now pleased that people are able to charge their mobile phones, watch television and school children are able to study using electricity.”
Mwenefumbo's hydropower plant has brought relief to communities in Chigwere in Nkhata Bay district, where residents previously struggled to access clean water and electricity.
"In the past, life was tough, but now I am in the business of charging phones, which gives me a little something that serves my family," said Daniel Kafulama, Group Village Headman Gama, whose house has been connected to the electricity grid.
Another beneficiary, Upendo Munthali, a woman from Gama village, said, "We were drawing water from sources where animals also used to drink, which was very unhealthy. We used to have various waterborne diseases in the past, but now the situation has improved, as we are now drinking treated water."
Mwenefumbo's plans do not stop here, he said, "I am planning to build a large water pump and a water reservoir for kiosks and household distribution. I have a tank at my house that distributes water to people around my village for free. My plan is to supply water to other communities so that they can also benefit from this," he said.
He also noted that some households that have been connected to electricity pay a monthly bill of MK4500, part of which is used to buy chlorine to treat the water before distribution.
Chimwemwe Mwenefumbo's innovation is bringing a change to the lives of many people in the selected communities, including students who are using electricity for their studies.
Vice Group Village Headman Daniwelo Chirwa of Traditional Authority Nyaluwanga in Nkhatabay said, "The innovation is helping many people in the selected communities, including students who are using the electricity for their studies."