When Yeremia Chihana assumed office as chief executive officer of the Blantyre Water Board on April 8, he may have anticipated a defining chapter in his career.
Barely weeks later, however, the appointment has been overshadowed by legal and administrative disputes that have culminated in his suspension from duty.
Chihana has since been barred from accessing any premises, site or office belonging to the water utility unless expressly invited in writing by the board chairperson.
“He will also not be allowed to contact, either directly or indirectly, any BWB clients, suppliers, or staff members regarding BWB business,” reads a memo issued by the board chairperson to members of staff.
The directive follows a High Court ruling discharging permission earlier granted for judicial review and stay of proceedings relating to Chihanas suspension pending disciplinary action.
At the centre of the dispute is a commitment Chihana made to residents of Bangwe Township in Blantyre on April 14, when he announced that water from kiosks would be provided free of charge for three months.
While the announcement was welcomed by consumers, it allegedly exposed the board to an estimated cost of MK500 million for the 870 kiosks earmarked for the initiative.
Documents seen by MIJ Online, purportedly authored by Chihana and addressed to Minister of Agriculture and Water Development Roza Mbilizi, indicate that the free water program was presented as an urgent public health intervention intended to help contain cholera in vulnerable communities such as Bangwe, which had at the time recorded more than 100 cases.
The documents further suggest that the board had proposed mitigation measures, including sourcing MK105 million from the Ministry of Health toward settlement of kiosk water bills, while also engaging the corporate sector through corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Among institutions mentioned are NICO Holdings and NBS Bank. However, both institutions have indicated they were not approached by the board on the matter.
Chihana has also appeared to contradict the contents of his earlier correspondence to the ministry, which suggested resources had already been secured from the two firms.
“We haven’t gone further on negotiations with such companies,” he said.
Sources within both the water board and the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development say the inconsistencies surrounding the proposed initiative formed part of the basis for the boards decision to suspend him, arguing that the matter had potential to undermine the utility provider’s credibility and financial integrity.
Despite the suspension, Chihana remains chief executive officer of the Blantyre Water Board pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.
As of today, The High Court has granted Chihana leave to appeal to a recent ruling that had discharged his permission to seek judicial review against the Blantyre Water Board.
In an order Justice Muhome also suspended the execution of the 19 May 2026 ruling and restrained the Water Board from enforcing its earlier decision to suspend Chihana.
According to the court order, leave to appeal has been granted to the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal against the chamber ruling of 19 May 2026, which discharged both the permission to apply for judicial review and the stay that had been granted on 27 April 2026.
Pending the hearing and determination of the appeal, the High Court has suspended the effect of the 19 May ruling.
The court further restrained the Blantyre Water Board, its directors, officials, and agents from implementing, enforcing, or giving effect to the suspension decision of 27 April 2026 and the subsequent letter dated 19 May 2026.
The order states that the application was urgent and raised serious arguable questions, with the balance of justice favouring preservation of the status quo.
