NWRA Leads Establishment of Bua-Dwangwa Catchment Management

The National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) has emphasized that effective water management in Malawi requires a robust approach to restoring and managing degraded catchments.

The authority notes that many catchment areas in the country are under severe pressure due to high population growth, poverty, and a lack of environmental awareness.

To address these challenges, NWRA is spearheading the establishment of Catchment Management Committees (CMCs) as institutions to oversee the sustainable management of these areas.

Recognizing the vital role natural resources play in socio-economic development, the NWRA aims to mitigate degradation through structured management strategies.

Engineer Tony Nyasulu, Director of Water Resources Management and Development, highlighted during a briefing to the Dowa District Executive Committee (DEC) that the NWRA was established under the Water Resources Act (2013) to regulate and manage Malawi’s water resources.

He explained that Malawi is divided into 17 Water Resource Areas (WRAs), with catchments delineated based on water drainage systems. Among these, the Shire River catchment is the largest, and Chizumulu is the smallest.

As part of this initiative, NWRA is leading the formation of the Bua Catchment Management Committee, covering five districts: Ntchisi, Kasungu, Mchinji, Nkhotakota, and Dowa. Sensitization meetings are being conducted at various levels, starting with district councils and extending to Area Development Committees (ADCs), from which committee members will be selected.

Nyasulu explained that the Bua Catchment Management Committee, with technical support from various sectors, will develop a Catchment Management Plan to guide its activities. The committee will eventually be gazetted and tasked with securing its funding, although NWRA will provide some initial support.

“These institutions are permanent and will streamline catchment management, replacing the fragmented approaches currently in place,” Nyasulu stated.

Nyasulu also revealed that NWRA plans to establish additional committees for catchments such as Dwangwa and South Rukuru, with the Linthipe Catchment Committee already operational.

Dowa District Council’s Director of Planning and Development, Mercy Mpakule, commended the initiative, expressing optimism that the approach will help restore degraded environments. She noted the alignment of this effort with Malawi’s Agenda 2063, which aims to achieve environmental sustainability.

“This initiative is commendable, and we hope it will significantly contribute to restoring heavily degraded catchments in our district and beyond,” Mpakule said.

By establishing these committees, NWRA is paving the way for integrated and sustainable management of Malawi’s critical water resources.