“We want to deliver what we promised,” Mutharika said at a rally in Chiradzulu after opening the project, which he said will help end water shortage in the commercial capital Blantyre and surrounding districts.

He said his administration plans to expand the water network throughout the country, in 18 locations in the South, Mangochi, Salima in the Centre, Nkhata Bay and Karonga in the North.

“We want people to have safe water. Water is life,’ said the President, urging Malawians to help develop the country.“This is the only country we have,” Mutharika added.

The project, which taps water from Mulanje Mountain at Likhubula Dam, kicked off in December, 2017.

Run by Blantyre Waer Board (BWB),  the project included construction of an intake dam at Chambe basin and a treatment plant.

The water supply system will supply 200 million cubic liters of water per day to reach 300, 000 residents and businesses.

Until recently, BWB drew most of its water from Walkers Ferry on Shire River, using power to pump the water uphill to Blantyre.