ASSESSMENT OF WATER USERS’ PARTICIPATION IN WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN MALAWI

Senior Chief Mkanda’s jurisdiction has Likhubula river which is one of the water resources that used as a supplementary water source by Blantyre Water Board (BWB). This created some resistance, by the local people, which led to conflicts between the two parties (BWB and the local people). This later affected the management and sustainability of Chambe basin which is the source Likhubula river. Public participation (PP) was introduced so as to minimise the conflicts. Public participation is increasingly expected to enhance the effectiveness of water resources management (WRM) and conflict resolution. This study aimed at exploring the effectiveness of form of PP put in place by BWB to achieve WRM in Senior Chief jurisdiction. Nakhonyo, Muhiwa and Mangombo villages found in Senior Chief Mkanda were selected for the study in this research. This was an exploratory study which involved a mixed method approach. Method used was a survey method which comprised of questionnaires and an interview guide with interest groups. This aimed at analysing and evaluating the form of PP that put in place, the extent to which the form of PP had contributed towards achieving WRM and exploring the challenges that affected the participation in WRM. Residents among different villages in Senior Chief Mkanda were compared and evaluated in terms of capacity building, willingness to participate, and scope. Data was analysed using mean and content analysis. Results showed that the residents in all the villages had a good capacity. Results also showed that there was room for interactive participation, due to the small scope, even though consultative participation had been put in place. There was also a high willingness to participate. Suggestions were made in two aspects: decision-making and whole-process participation; Improvement and strengthening of capacity.