Stakeholders in the water sector in Tanzania have urged the government to work and engage the private sector in the operation of water projects so as to solve the problem of water scarcity that is facing manypeople, particularly in rural areas.
This plea was made by the Engineering Manager of SN-TECH Tanzania Limited,Engineer Mohamed Salim in Dar es Salaam yesterday during a news conference.
“It is high time the government engaged the private sector in owning and operating water projects especially in rural areas and such initiatives should be regulated by the Ministry of Water and the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).
“The private sector should be allowed to operate ‘bulk supply of water’ as it is being in other countries where it has showed impressive results,” Eng Salim remarked.
The expert was hopeful that by allowing private players in the sector water woes would be addressed while the government will earn revenues through water authorities. He stressed further that the system would require the private players to produce and treat water to cater for demand of a respective area.
“The investor will foot all costs related to infrastructure and operations after which the water will be sold to water authorities at tariffs to be set by EWURA,” Eng Salim explained. He added: “My company (SN-TECH Tanzania Limited) is more than ready to invest in such projects should the government allow the private sector to venture in such initiatives.
Eng Salim said the company has vast experience in water projects following a number of studies it had conducted in solving scarcity of the precious liquid. He pointed to the fact that water is an important factor as the country was focusing on industrialisation agenda being championed by President John Magufuli.
SN-TECH Tanzania Limited was established in 1998 to provide solution in pumps, pump systems and water sector going along with technical support and after-service.
