Njoge villagers express dissatisfaction with local government leadership

DODOMA: RESIDENTS of Njoge Village in Kongwa District, Dodoma Region, have expressed dissatisfaction with their village government leaders, accusing them of making unilateral decisions without consulting the citizens.

Speaking during a visit by Kongwa District Commissioner (DC), Mayeka Simon, the villagers lamented that the newly elected leaders had not convened any meetings with residents since assuming office.

Instead, they alleged that the leaders arbitrarily have hiked water price from 20/- to 50/- per 20-litre bucket.

Reacting to the concerns, Kongwa District Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) Manager, Provina Singenda, clarified that water pricing is regulated by the Ministry of Water.

Singenda noted that the official rates are 20/- per bucket for running water, 40/- for borehole water, and 1,000/- per unit of piped household water, equivalent to 50 buckets.

The manager further assured residents that the government has allocated funds in the 2024/25 financial year to construct a 100,000-litre water storage tank in the village, urging them to remain patient as efforts are underway to address the water shortages.

On his part, Njoge Village Chairman, Hassan Kalambo, acknowledged the residents’ concerns and apologised for not convening meetings, as he promised to do so according to the calendar to enhance transparency and inclusivity.

DC Simon reminded village leaders that failure to hold meetings to present financial reports and involve residents in decision-making is a legal offence and urged local government leaders to embrace participatory governance.

Meanwhile, discussions on a long-standing land dispute between Njoge and Lenjulu villages remained inconclusive despite a series of closed-door and public meetings.

Leaders from both villages agreed to conduct a site visit to the disputed area to determine the boundary and resolve the matter amicably.