Water Scarcity Plagues Mkulamwendo Village in Dedza
Group Village Headman Mkulamwendo said that most of the area's 400 households depend on unprotected water sources like rivers and open wells that animals also use.
DEDZA, Malawi — Residents of Mkulamwendo village in Dedza district are grappling with a severe shortage of safe, potable water as the area has no boreholes, undermining efforts toward universal access to clean water and sanitation, writes Edward Chikwanda.
Group Village Headman Mkulamwendo said that most of the area's 400 households depend on unprotected water sources like rivers and open wells that animals also use.
"A lot of households in the area depend much on unprotected sources...making the area prone to cholera and other waterborne diseases," Mkulamwendo said.
He added that women and girls are particularly burdened, having to travel long distances to fetch water.
This results in sexual harassment risks, marital problems as they neglect family duties, and students missing classes or dropping out of school.
"Women are prone to sexual harassment because they travel long distances in search of water," Mkulamwendo said.
"A lot of marriages are destroyed because women spend much of their time fetching water instead of taking care of the family."
The village head appealed for government agencies, NGOs and well-wishers to help address the dire water situation by constructing boreholes and other safe water points in the area.
"If the area can have a lot of boreholes, 400 households can benefit and education levels can be improved because students cannot be reporting late for classes," Mkulamwendo said.
Local mechanic Stambuli Sineki expressed concern about villagers' safety, stating some have to go through bushes to reach water sources, risking encounters with dangerous wildlife.
Mkulamwendo falls under the Kasumbu Traditional Authority in Dedza, a district still struggling to achieve universal access to safe, clean drinking water as many rely on unprotected sources posing health risks.