Lilongwe, June 13: European Investment Bank (EIB) vice president Pim Van Ballekom has expressed satisfaction with the water facilities and sanitation in Malawi, saying the money his bank loaned to the country is put to effective use.
Van Ballekom was speaking in an interview Friday, during an inspection tour of water kiosks in Mchezi in Lilongwe which EIB co-funded along with Water Aid, European Union and Government.
Ballekom said he was inspired by the water kiosks facilities saying they are providing the locals with clean and disinfected water.
Also speaking on the tour, the Head of European Union Delegation (EU) to Malawi Marchel Gerrmann said he was happy and inspired by the creativity of people and to see how much change the EU has had on the people of Mchezi.
“I see that we have made a huge difference, for instance I spoke to a lady from the water kiosk, who was collecting water, where she said before she used to walk for a long distance just to get water but now with the water kiosks she is able to get the water nearby,” he said.
Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) Chairman Rev Dr Billy Gama commended the EIB for granting them the loan, saying the loan will go a long way in improving LWB’s facilities.
“This loan will be used to improve the Kamuzu Dam where we draw water by 5 meters, and this will give an addition of 18 cubic mill-liters of water, we are also going to develop a computerized system that will monitor water leakages in the city,” he said.
The EIB is the world largest international bank that has given Malawi a loan of about MK 12 billion to improve the water and aviation sect.
