Govt allocates over 1bn/- for Rukwa water projects

RUKWA: THE government through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) has allocated 1.1bn/- for drilling 25 boreholes in five constituencies in Rukwa Region in the 2024/25 budget.

The project anticipates to benefit 25,500 citizens will be executed into two phases in Kwela, Sumbawanga Urban, Kalambo, Nkasi North and South constituencies with a combined population of 1,357,549 people.

Rukwa Regional RUWASA Manager, Eng Boaz Matundali, recently explained that the Phases 1 and II of the projects are wholly funded by the government by 100 per cent.

“RUWASA’s strategy aims to improve water access in underserved villages by drilling five boreholes in each constituency, with the programme expected to be completed by the 2024/25 financial year,” he said.

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He highlighted that in the project took of April last year and scheduled for completion at the end of this January adding 300m/- has been allocated to each constituency in the region for the purpose.

Speaking on the 1st phase of the project Eng Matundali said that out of 25 boreholes about 22 of them have been drilled and 15 have been found with water.

“The 1st phase project involves groundwater exploration, borehole drilling and testing water quantity and quality,” he added.

Giving a break down he further explained that nine boreholes each has been drilled in Sumbawanga and Nkasi constituencies which four has been drilled in Kalambo constituency.

However, only seven boreholes have been found with water in Kalambo while five in Sumbawanga and three in Kalambo.

“The goal of this borehole drilling programme is to provide clean and safe water to villages that have never had access to such services,” he explained.

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He further said that upon completion of the project the availability of water supply in rural setting in Rukwa will increase from in 72 per cent to 74 per cent with the growth of 1.9 per cent.

The Phase II of the project according to Eng Matundali involves the establishment of water infrastructures including construction of points for drawing water, water tanks, houses for accommodating plants and setting of water pumps and installation of electricity.

He further said that the water infrastructures are under taken in four villages of Mtimbwa, Mpwapwa, Lyapona B and Milanzi in Sumbawanga rural. While water infrastructures are undertaken in eight villages of Miyula, China, Ngundwe, Iyele, Kipundu, Kanazi and Tundu in Nkasi.

He urged people to protect the infrastructure of these projects and avoid vandalism, as damage to water facilities incurs significant costs.

“My appeal to the public is to safeguard all constructed water projects and avoid vandalising the infrastructure,” he added.