One of the local leaders, Traditional authority Kaledzera, has told Zodiak Online on  Saturday that the development has left scores of people failing to access potable water in the process.

Kaledzera said after government terminated its contractor with FISD in 2021 limited, it hired two contractors.

"After commencing works on the site,  the two contractors abandoned site without informing communities, adding that scores of people are failing to access potable water in the project’s impact areas," said Kaledzera.

Spokesperson for the ministry of water and sanitation, James Daire Kumwenda  said government downsized the scope of work owing to funding constraints.

Kumwenda said  this affected 200 community water points out of 1,300 targeted to be constructed in the initial project design.

"Government is in talks with some potential donors to fund the project so that extension works could be resumed," said Kumwenda.

Meanwhile, Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) Programme Officer, Bernard Mphepo, has described the development as unfortunate since government borrowed money from African Development Bank (AfDB) to facilitate rehabilitation of the water schemes in Phalombe.

Mphepo added that people are grappling with Cholera because they cannot access potable water despite government obtained a loan to address the challenges.

In 2015, government launched a K19.5 billon water project in Phalombe aimed at enhancing provision of potable water in five districts including Phalombe.

The six traditional leaders include Kaledzera, Kaduya, Horo, Nyezelera, Namasoko and Nyambalo.