Water flows again in Lilongwe

Residents of Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital can now breathe a sigh of relief after government intervened to end a strike by employees at the city’s water authority.

The intervention by Labour Minister Eunice Makangala has seen the workers and management agreeing to an average of 25 percent, down from their earlier demand of 30 percent

Tap water stopped running almost throughout the city since Wednesday, following the strike, but worker denied to have shut down valves.

“After consultations we have settled for 25 percent average, but the lowest paid will get up to 33 percent,” said the Labour Minister after meeting the workers for about 3 hours.

The workers said they were ready to work all night Thursday to ensure that residents of the city have water by Friday.

Earlier, health officials had warned of an outbreak of waterborne diseases if the situation was not controlled.

Water development and Irrigation Minister Richie Muheya, who accompanied the Labour Minister to meet the workers, commended the employees for their peaceful industrial action.

Meanwhile, reports suggest a similar strike is impending at Blantyre water board and the Electricity supply Cooperation of Malawi ESCOM