Tanzania’s Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, has announced a grand water distribution project in four regions of Rukwa, Katavi, Simiyu and Tabora by utilizing Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika fresh waters to step up water supply, hence permanently addressing water problems in the regions.
The Prime Minister revealed this when he addressed Majengo residents in Sumbawanga Municipality in Rukwa Region on recently after laying a foundation stone on a mega-water project financed by the European Union and Government of Germany through its development bank, KfW, at the cost of US$14.6 million
“The government is looking at the possibility of harnessing Lake Tanganyika’s fresh waters from Karema Village in Tanganyika District (Katavi ) as well as Kasanga Port in Kalambo District in Rukwa Region for use in those municipalities as well as all villages in which the project will pass through”, he said.
In addition, the PM said that water supply in Shinyanga Region, as drawn from Lake Victoria would serve Igunga and Nzega districts in Tabora Region. Also, the water project in Busega District in Simiyu Region will be extended to Bariadi, Meatu, Itilima and Maswa districts in the region.
The premier warned that environmental degradation in Katavi and Rukwa regions could lead to desertification if measures are not taken to control it and plant many trees to check the effects of climate change.
He instructed the DCs and RCs to start a special campaign to contain the situation if desertification is to be contained as the situation is worse in Rukwa Region while Katavi Region seems to follow in the same as a result of uncontrolled human activities.
He cautioned that if the situation is not brought under control, the lives and welfare of the people as well as water supply will be in jeopardy. Earlier, Acting Managing Director of Sumbawanga Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Suwasa), Engineer Hamis Makala told the Prime Minister that the construction of the project officially start on March 18, 2013.
The project was initially expected to be completed on March 15, 2015. Engineer Makala explained that the work on the project had reached 85 per cent, noting that its construction had been divided into two phases that include drilling of deep wells, being undertaken by the Jandu Plumbers Company from Arusha; and construction of clean and safe water network infrastructure and two sanitation dams carried out by Technofab Company from India.
The money would also be used in connecting pumps in 12 drilled deep wells, laying water pipes in Sumbawanga Municipality covering 16 kilometres, improving water filtering plant located at Majengo Juu area, where construction of 12 water kiosks and 38 water centres is going on and purchase of two garbage collector trucks.
