By Aaron Dube
From the moment he took office, Yeremiya Chihana has focused on restoring integrity, expanding service, and protecting public resources at the Blantyre Water Board.
Appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Blantyre Water Board on 8 April 2026, Chihana has used a short but intensive tenure to tackle chronic inefficiencies that long undermined water delivery in Malawi’s commercial capital.
His work ethic is defined by transparency, technical competence, and zero tolerance for practices that compromise water supply standards.
Under his leadership, new pumping pipes have been installed to reach Blantyre communities such as Bangwe, Chilomoni, and Machinjiri, with high-volume pumps now feeding water tanks that previously ran dry.
Those infrastructure upgrades have begun to ease the severe water shortages that Blantyre residents endured for years, demonstrating a results-focused approach.
Chihana is also actively engaging development partners, including the World Bank and other institutions, to secure funding for expanded water development projects and improved supply networks.
Central to his reform agenda is supplier accountability, as he is building and maintaining a clear list of suppliers who are corrupt or incompetent and have lowered water supply standards in the past.
He is instead prioritizing suppliers who are professional, competent, and able to deliver on contractual obligations without cutting corners.
Field operations have been a hallmark of his tenure, with Chihana personally leading teams to uncover illegal water connections across the city.
In June 2026, BWB teams under his direction exposed a major illegal connection at Portland Cement Company’s Blantyre headquarters, where the firm had bypassed the board’s metering system.
The board imposed a K188 million fine on Portland Cement, and Chihana publicly stated that BWB loses close to K5 billion monthly in Blantyre due to institutional water theft and meter bypasses.
His crackdown has also targeted multiple companies and meter bypass connections, sending a clear signal that revenue leakage will not be tolerated.
Despite these operational gains, Chihana’s tenure has been marked by a turbulent power struggle with the board.
Board Chair Stanley Chirwa suspended Chihana on 27 April 2026, just three weeks into his role, citing alleged misconduct and abuse of office.
Chihana countered with reports that his suspension followed his refusal to fraudulently award a US$2 million, or MK3.5 billion, contract to a politically connected company.
The legal standoff became a “merry-go-round” of injunctions, with Chihana securing a High Court order to stay the suspension on the same day it was issued.
On 19 May 2026, High Court Judge Allan Muhome discharged that injunction and directed Chihana to pursue redress through the Industrial Relations Court.
Chihana then obtained leave to appeal to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, allowing him to remain at his desk while the case continues.
Throughout the litigation, the board chair Stain Chirwa has been accused of engineering frequent court injunctions and summons in an effort to stop Chihana’s work and incite confusion.
The BWB Employees Trade Union has formally asked the Comptroller of Statutory Corporations to intervene in the prolonged gridlock.
In spite of these pressures, Chihana has kept his focus on service delivery, infrastructure expansion, and financial discipline.
For Blantyre, his work represents a shift toward a CEO who is present in the field, accountable to the public, and intent on fixing systems rather than protecting networks.
International observers will be watching whether Malawi’s institutions can protect this kind of reform leadership long enough for its impact to be fully realized.
