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NEWS in brief

Around Africa

pass” as in every corner of Monrovia, especially Gurley
Street that has adopted the name “pupu camp.”

South Africa

A businesswoman only identified as Mrs. Cooper, said
they had cried to the government through the Monrovia
City Corporation to come to their aid, but no one has
come from the City Major office to listen to their
concerns. She said since the human feces started running
into the streets as a result burst sewage, their businesses
have lost customers.

Govt Declares War On Water Leaks

“I don’t know what kind of country we are in so my
brother; the drainage spoiled since last month (February)
and government cars pass here every day, but yet, nobody
is coming to our aid. See my shop, for whole week nobody
will come and ask for something because of this stench,”
Mrs. Cooper lamented.
A phone seller, Johnson Sieh, also told this paper that
peddlers in the streets are getting sick every day so
government should intervene immediately to avert a
health catastrophe in Monrovia. Johnson specifically
appealed to Montserrado County Superintendent to do
something so that they can continue with their businesses.

Government is on a mission to end water wastage resulting
from ageing infrastructure and human error, which leads
to the country losing 37% of this precious natural resource
per annum.
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice
Mabudafhasi, in partnership with the City of Tshwane,
today took the War on Leaks campaign to Mamelodi,
Tshwane, with the express aim of putting a stop to water
leaks in households, schools, clinics and other public
buildings.
The project is currently being implemented in different
municipalities across the country, a move that will go a long
way to help government save money on fixing damaged
water infrastructure, for which it currently pays R7 billion
a year.

The street peddlers quoted a German national, who
refused to be identified, as disclosing, “I and my boss lady
went to get some items from the boutique but to get there
we have to pass through this dirty pupu water you seeing
it yourself.”

Malawi

Development of irrigated agriculture to increase food
security and economic growth in Malawi
The Government of
Malawi has received
a €1.8 million grant
from the Africa
Water Facility to
help prepare a
project to expand
irrigated agriculture
in the Lower Shire
Valley. The project will help overcome the adverse effects
of prolonged dry spells and frequent flooding, improve
and spread agricultural production, as well as create
employment opportunities through farming and irrigation
ventures. The grant will be used to finance a feasibility
study and preparatory activities to mobilize funding for
an irrigation plan covering 21,000 hectares. Over 272,000
people are expected to benefit from this project.

Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • March - April 2014

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