President Samia wants an end to water blues

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has demanded that water equipment released by the government should help address the water crisis in the country and not otherwise.

The equipment including a range of borehole drilling machines and vehicles will allow regional authorities to survey and identify prime areas to drill boreholes.

“I do not want mistakes,” President Samia told Water Minister Jumaa Aweso and his PS, Eng. Anthony Sanga. The executives had attended a headover ceremony. President Samia also witnessed the signing of an agreement to construct the long-awaited Kidunda dam in Morogoro between Dawasa and Sino Hydro.

The dam has been described as an immediate solution towards stabilizing water flows in the Ruvu river– the major water source for Dar es Salaam and Coast region, accounting for over 90 per cent of the entire volume of water produced for the commercial city dwellers.

Dar es Salaam daily water demand is pegged at 540 million liters. But the supply has been seriously affected by erratic rains pushed by the ongoing global climate change. Dar es Salaam Water Supply Authority (DAWASA) says while the capacity of its water treatment plants is to produce 520 million liters the current production rate stands at around 300 million liters making a shortage of over 200 million liters.

President Samia detailed that the new equipment should help water authorities determine correct spots to drill boreholes. “I am expecting those involved with drilling the boreholes to be precise … no mistakes,” she said emphasizing. “This is not the time for drilling ghost boreholes.”

The head of state threatened to take serious actions including sending both the Minister and his team packing should there be levels of incompetence in handling and administering the equipments.

Meanwhile President Samia reiterated construction of the 329bn/- Kidunda dam will be the solution to the growing demand of water supply in Dar es Salaam. The project according to the Water Ministry PS, Eng. Sanga will be commissioned for 36 months.

Eng Sanga said the government has released 100bn/- as immediate payment for the purpose and that the remaining funding will be allocated through the next financial year.