President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has said the commissioning of the Nkhata Bay Town Water Supply System and Sanitation Facilities marks a new beginning for the people of Nkhata Bay as it addresses the challenges which have been experienced in the district for a long time.

Making the remarks today in Chikale Nkhata Bay where he presided over the commissioning of the project, Chakwera said the neglected water supply projects led to dire results, thus his government's commitment to ensuring their completion.

"It gives me great joy to join you here in Nkhata Bay in celebrating this project which we have successfully completed ahead of time and within budget. This facility is not a favour from government to the people, but it is a right they have to enjoy from their government," said Chakwera.

Chakwera said government is conducting similar projects across the country to ensure people have access to clean and portable water as it is a service which Malawians have lacked for close to a decade.

"We have multiple projects like this across the country including the one I will commission in Mangochi next month. In Karonga we are about to complete the Karonga water and sanitation project," said Chakwera.

In her remarks, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Mia said since the inception of the project, Nkhata Bay district has had few to zero cases of Cholera outbreak in all areas where the project has been implemented.

"With your guidance, my ministry and the board considered this project to be instrumental and decided to ensure the project is completed on time which has seen great results. For many years, the district has been a hotspot of cholera outbreaks as people lacked access to clean portable water. However, the case is now different," Mia said.

In his remarks, Board Chairperson for Northern Region Water Board, Frank Tumpale Mwenifumbo thanked the President for the project, saying the facilities are a testament of Government's resolve in addressing challenges associated with access to clean water and improved water sanitation.

"The facility being inaugurated today is a correct reflection of your Excellency's vision as pronounced in Malawi 2063. That Nkhata Bay Water Supply and Sanitation Facilities are being opened today assures everyone that the attainment, sustainable and universal access to water and sanitation is being achieved in Nkhata Bay and in Malawi as a whole.

"On water supply, we have increased production capacity of the treatment plant from 1.5 million litres per day to 20 million litres per day, which is a significant increase to carter for the growing demand," said Mwenifumbo.

In his remarks, Country Director for African Development Bank, Dr McMillan Anyanwu thanked the President for the project, saying it marked another milestone in the successful adherence of the Malawi 2063 agenda.