For over three years, anxiety, uncertainties and impatience with health risks have been gripping residents along Nankhaka River in the capital Lilongwe due to industrial effluents deposited into it.
The Maravi Post’s spot check conducted on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 along river which passes through Mgona, Area 28, Area 30, Chimoka, Senti, Area 18 B, Gulliver revealed that domestically water uses such as bathing, washing have been stopped due to health risks effluents have had on residents.
Even fishing and winter cropping have also been ceased due to water pollution that has been happening since 2012 by the manufacturing companies which do not have proper waste disposals as recommended by the law.
The Maravi post’s investigation revealed that companies such as Carlsberg Malawi-Lilongwe Plant, ITEM, Mulli Brothers, Mosanto Malawi, Capenta, Mac Steal, and Health Net are the main culprits to this environmental damage scandal as their main sewers end up into Nankhaka River.
Residents along the river who spoke to the Maravi Post during the tour expressed disappointment over the matter considering the time the issue came into being in 2012 without any help from the authority.
“This river is very essential to us for domestically water use. But with the current status we are unable to use it for washing, bathing even drinking due to its damage. Honestly, urgent attention on this matter is needed”, complained Ethel Phiri, a Senti resident.
Another resident from Chimoka confided with this reporter that last year (2014) communities matched to Carlsberg Malawi Offices over the issues after they discovered that effluents discarded into the river were theirs which for some weeks after the demonstration, river’s waters were clean but later the problem resurfaced till this year.
“The discovery that the effluents came from Carlsberg Malawi, led into a demonstration to their offices which yield a little but later within the same year, the problem resurfaced till now.
Our block leaders (Chiefs) aren’t helping matters as have been bribed by companies specifically Carlsberg Malawi. This is because after the match, these chiefs were called to a party which were offered some monies which vindicates their quietness now over the matter despite calling them to act”, alleges Joseph Madyapa, a Chimoka resident.
Later the Maravi Post caught up with Group Village Headman (GVH) Chimoka who shared the same sentiments with residents saying the authority was people’s last hope considering efforts made dialoging with companies’ officials on the matter.
“After last year’s demonstration, Carlsberg Malawi assured us that would work on their sewage plants which were done for a few weeks but the problem resurfaced till now. We have not been bribed by them only that our efforts talking to them are yielding nothing. Government must come in to rescue its people” urges GVH Chimoka.
An inside source worker at Carlsberg Malawi-Lilongwe Plant privy to this reporter said that indeed his company was directly involved into the malpractice saying the introduction of the Plant III which has a recycling effluents facility in 2011 was the genesis of it all.
“Our company is a source of the river’s damage. This started when the company planted a third facility to increase production in 2011.Before this plant, company’s effluents from Plant I and II were discarded at Chatata area with full treatment. Plant III’s recycling facility isn’t managed well.
“A very worrying thing is that chemicals (Caustic) used to recycle effluents are toxic and reactive which kill aquatic plants, animals and also damage people’s skin. I can’t lie to you on this. I’m also concerned with the matter as a benefactor of the river for various domestic purposes but now it’s a dream. If you are really serious about this this, do further investigations. Just take the sample of water then come to the recycling plant for comparison, you are to get the truth”, challenges the source.
Efforts to get the other side of matter from Peter Chimungu, Quality Assurance Manager for Carlsberg Malawi, Lilongwe Plant yield nothing as he mobile phone went un answered for several times as we went to press.
But in an exclusive interview with the Maravi Post on Thursday, July 9, 2015 with Mr Sangwani, Spokesperson for Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) in the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Resources said the department was aware about the problem only that thorough research was not done to establish the severe damage on the river.
“We just got a tip that something fishy was going on this river. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to establish how hard the damage has been on people. So, with your coming it means the problem is so severe. Therefore, we are to act urgently on the matter”, assures Sangwani.
