Malawi: Robert Hanjahanja appointed new CEO of Blantyre Water Board and wants Board to reduce inefficiencies

The Blantyre Water Board (BWB) Board of Directors has hired Engineer Robert Hanjahanja as the new Managing Director (CEO) of the board succeeding Engineer Daniel Chawezi whose three-year contract expires on October 31, 2020.

BWB Chairman of the Board George Nnesa said on Monday, September 13, 2021 that the new CEO has been identified after a difficult and extensive process.

In an interview with the Nyasa Times on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, the new CEO said his reaction to the appointment was a humble gratitude “and at the same time an eagerness to move forward and serve the people of Malawi in the best of my ability by the grace of God, which is my greatest help “.

“My vision is to help BWB grow, reduce inefficiencies and provide high quality service to often neglected poor urban areas,” Hanjahanja said, adding that he is a water service specialist with passion. to serve and provide the urban poor with sustainable water and sanitation. solutions.

During his career, he worked as Deputy Project Manager at USAID – EWASH, a program implemented by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in Abuja, Nigeria. Previously, he was Chief Director of Irrigation and Water Development at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development (Malawi).

Hanjahanja has extensive experience having served as Chief Executive Officer for the Southern Region Water Council; Consultant at Castalia Strategic Advisors in a reform project for Mombasa Water and Sewerage Company in Kenya; Utilities Specialist with USAID-SUWASA, a program implemented by Tetratech Consulting and Engineering Firm in Nairobi, Kenya, where he assisted in the development and coordination of their reforms and technical initiatives for the nine countries in which SUWASA has worked – Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Liberia and Senegal.

Learn more about Hanjahanja’s career

Hanjahanja was also Country Director for Habitat for Humanity, an NGO in Malawi, which provides low-cost, sustainable housing solutions to the poor. Previously, he worked at the Lilongwe Water Board, where he was Director of Engineering Services and Interim CEO. His first assignment was a water engineer in the water department of the Ministry of Public Works and Supply.

He is a utility management specialist registered with the Institute of Public Private Partnerships (IP3) in the United States and is a registered engineer with the Board of Engineers of Malawi.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Malawi Polytechnic, a master’s degree in urban service planning from Loughborough University (UK) and a doctorate in environmental engineering with a focus on on options for delivering water services to the urban poor from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

A little personal

Grown up as the son of a diplomat who had assignments in Germany and the United States.

Dedicated his life to the LORD JESUS ​​on October 29, 1991 while studying at Blantyre Polytechnic.

A preacher and singer of the Gospel and a servant of the Lord JESUS ​​CHRIST.

Married and father of three children.

A strong supporter of Manchester United.