Multiple water projects completed
DODOMA: THE government has completed 16 water projects worth 16.28bn/- within the first 100 days of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s renewed mandate, providing clean and safe water to more than 118,400 citizens across the country.
Presenting the Ministry of Water’s 100-day performance report yesterday in Dodoma, Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso said an additional 71 projects are ongoing, with many already supplying water, and are expected to benefit 2,887,029 people nationwide upon completion.
Within the same period, Mr Aweso said the government formally launched the National Water Grid, a flagship initiative designed to draw water from reliable sources such as lakes and rivers and distribute it to waterscarce regions across the country.
“The ministry has completed the design for the Lake Victoria–Dodoma Water Project, which will channel water from Lake Victoria through Singida to the Capital City. The remaining step is securing a contractor to implement President Samia’s directive,” he said.
He reported steady progress on projects drawing water from major lakes. Around Lake Victoria, works in Musoma, Rorya– Tarime, Bunda, Simiyu, Mwanza, Geita, Chato, Biharamulo and Bukoba are either ongoing or being fasttracked.
Regarding Lake Tanganyika, the minister said the government has secured a consultant to undertake feasibility studies and detailed designs for supplying water to Kigoma, Katavi, Songwe and Rukwa regions.
He added that procurement of a consultant to manage water supply from Lake Nyasa to Njombe and Ruvuma regions is currently underway.
Mr Aweso further said the ministry has completed feasibility and detailed design studies to draw water from the Rufiji River for Dar es Salaam, Coast and Lindi regions, as well as from the Ruvuma River for the Mtwara–Mikindani area.
“The Nanyumbu–Masasi Water Project, which is sourced from the Ruvuma River, is progressing well,” he assured.
Several major contracts have also been signed during the period, including the 119bn/- Tunduma Water Project, which has already received an advance payment of 5.99bn/-.
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Other signed projects include the 81.4bn/- Morogoro Water and Sanitation Project, expected to benefit more than 602,000 residents, and the 38.7bn/- Mwanza Water and Sanitation Project, which will serve 3,400 households. Additional contracts cover water projects in Songwe, Njombe, Geita, Singida and Simiyu regions.
The minister said 2,271 prepaid water meters have been procured and installation is ongoing, alongside the construction of mediumsized rainwater harvesting dams in Gidahababieg, Mwambazi and Mwamashindike.
Once completed, the dams will store 1.45 million cubic metres of water, ensuring a reliable supply to 1,817,800 people and 356,400 livestock.
He added that more than 705,300 trees have been planted in water catchment areas as part of efforts to protect and conserve natural water sources.
Beneficiaries of the completed and ongoing projects are spread across Dodoma, Njombe, Iringa, Kilimanjaro, Geita, Tanga and Simiyu regions, the minister noted.
He further said among the ongoing projects already delivering water are the Mtwara Urban Water Project Lot II, Tanga Urban Water Supply Project Phase III Lot 01, the Mabayan Pump Station upgrade, Nzuguni Phase I in Dodoma, the Igunga wastewater treatment project and the Kigamboni Water Project Lot III in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Aweso also cited progress on the Mkinga– Horohoro Water Project in Tanga Region, where pipes worth 7.8bn/- have arrived for laying along a 23-kilometre stretch.
“The project will supply clean and safe water to 57,000 residents in 10 wards and 37 villages along the Tanga–Horohoro road, including border communities at Horohoro,” he added.
