Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa yesterday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a US $7.2m water project in Longido District, Arusha Region. The project will serve to serve at least 26,000 people. Internal sources fund the project.
During his address, Mr Majaliwa stressed the government’s commitment to improving social services. He said the government was striving hard to implement the promised ruling party’s 2015 election manifesto.
Also read:Construction of Multi-million water Project in Tanzania to begin
Social amenities
Water produced, according to him will be sourced from Mto Samba in Siha District, Kilimanjaro. This is just 64km from Longido. Mr Majaliwa explained areas the government was committed to working on include improving power supply especially in rural areas, improvement of roads, education and health services.
Others are a crackdown on corruption as well as embezzlement of public funds. He explained that this is brcuase these are areas through which the government loses a lot of money. As a result, members of the public fail to access better social services. According to the Minister of Water and Irrigation Gerson Lwenge, plans for the project started since 2010. According to him, accessibility to water in the country is at 72 per cent. This is on average.
Water access in Longido currently stands at 15%.The project’s main aim is to end the shortage. He mentioned villages that would benefit from the project as Engikareti, Oltepes, Orbomba, Longido and Ranchi.
The contractors responsible include Rembo Tanzania Ltd and Emirates Aluminium. The Minister urged them to accomplish the project on time and up to standard, as stipulated in the contract.
