Man arrested for allegedly diverting water to irrigate marijuana farm

DODOMA: A RESIDENT of Hamvu Street in Chang’ombe Ward, Dodoma, Mr Hood Rajabu has been arrested for allegedly diverting water from the Dodoma Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DUWASA) to irrigate marijuana farm.

The suspect was arrested earlier this week during a debt collection and infrastructure inspection operation conducted by the authority.

During the operation, DUWASA officials discovered that Mr Rajabu had made an illegal water connection for farming activities.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital city, DUWASA Debt Management and Control Manager, Mr George Mwakamele, explained that the authority received a tip-off from good Samaritans regarding the illegal water diversion allegedly carried out by the suspect.

After receiving the information, Mr Mwakamele narrated, DUWASA monitored the suspect before discovering that he had been using the water for marijuana farming, which affected the neighbourhood’s water supply.

“We received confidential information about this customer and started tracking him. We discovered that he had been using our water for marijuana farming. The activities were taking place within a large, fenced compound where he had confined himself,” said Mr Mwakamele.

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He urged the public to continue reporting any acts of damage to water infrastructure in their areas to help curb such illegal activities.

Hamvu Local Government chairperson Mr Halid Majid, expressed concern over the incident, noting that the illegal water diversion had contributed to water shortage in the area.

He emphasised that there was no justification for stealing water, calling on residents to follow legal procedures to get water and settle bills. “DUWASA has a system for paying bills in instalments. There is no reason to steal water and use it for marijuana farming. This is against the law and tarnishes the good image of our community,” Mr Majid said.

He further claimed that Rajabu had once been a law-abiding citizen but later turned to drug use and illegal activities. Chang’ombe Ward resident Ibrahim Mafita, advised fellow residents to follow legal procedures for paying water bills, stressing that illegal water use, especially for unlawful purposes like marijuana farming, was unacceptable.

The suspect is currently in police custody, while DUWASA continues its debt collection operations and disconnection of water services for customers with outstanding debts.