Page 19 - WATER SECTOR MAGAZINE VOLUME 3

LILONGWE WATER BOARD

LAUNCHES E-MADZI

their livelihood. when the kiosk attendant is/was around’
said Chikuni.
By VANESSA CHIDYAONGA Speaking at the same event, LWB Chief
LILONGWE WATER BOARD Executive Officer Engineer Alfonso Besides e-Madzi, LWB is also planning
Chikuni said the Board has set up a total the launch of pre-paid water metering
On Friday 9th June 2017, community of 31 e-Madzi kiosks across the City of system.
members of Kaliyeka in Area 23 witnessed Lilongwe, to ensure that every person
the official launch of electronic kiosks by in the city has easy access to clean and The pre-paid metering project is an
Lilongwe Water Board (LWB). This new affordable water. initiative adopted by LWB to enhance
self-service system dubbed the e-Madzi, revenue collection from its customers,
provides a more convenient and secure The e-Madzi system allows a water user to both domestic and corporate and to
way of drawing water from kiosks using draw water from a kiosk using the cash- accord customers an opportunity to plan
TNM Mpamba accounts and a swiping preloaded swiping card without the aid of properly on how they use their water.
card. a kiosk attendant or cash payment at the
point of sale. The pre-paid system entails that a customer
During the launch, Traditional Authority pays for water upfront by purchasing
Tsabango applauded LWB for the “This means, customers will not be paying water credit before they use it, therefore
innovation and urged people from the more than the fixed price to the kiosk eliminating large unexpected monthly
area to have a sense of ownership over the attendant and also will have the freedom bills. The meters are programmed to stop
kiosks and not to vandalize them. He also to go to the kiosk at any time they want, the flow of water once the pre-paid credit
emphasized how the kiosks will improve compared to when they would go only is exhausted.

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