Tanzania strengthens water security

• VP stresses protection of water sources to ensure sustainable future

MOROGORO: VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi has called on all development stakeholders to protect water sources, stressing that safeguarding water is crucial to ending shortages and securing a sustainable future for coming generations.

Speaking yesterday during the climax of the 2026 Water Week celebrations in Morogoro, Dr Nchimbi described the national water grid project as a critical step toward eliminating water scarcity across Tanzania.

“We must invest in the water sector as guided by our policies, including protecting, conserving and expanding our water sources. As we implement Vision 2050, the national water grid must remain a top priority,” he said.

He urged all ministries and public institutions to collaborate closely in addressing water-related challenges, aligning with the government under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of a country free from water scarcity.

“Water is essential in every sector, and there is no person for whom water is unimportant,” Dr Nchimbi added.

The Vice-President also stressed the importance of environmental sanitation, calling on authorities to ensure the proper functioning of wastewater systems to prevent contamination of clean water.

He directed the Ministry of Water to install water metres across various usage points to reduce losses and improve consumer accountability.

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He encouraged the ministry to explore new revenue streams, citing Tanga Water Authority’s water bond as a successful example for other authorities to follow.

Dr Nchimbi highlighted Tanzania’s achievements under the 2002 Water Policy (2025 Edition), noting that over 85.2 per cent of rural residents and 92.5 per cent of urban residents now have access to clean and safe water.

“To date, 10,758 villages have been reached with clean water services, leaving only 1,575 villages remaining. I commend the Ministry of Water for focusing on completing these areas,” he said.

He recalled President Samia’s 2021 Parliament address, in which she emphasised reducing the burden on women who often carry water long distances.

Dr Nchimbi noted that ongoing water projects are being implemented efficiently and producing results.

He said Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050 sets ambitious economic growth targets, including raising citizens’ incomes to upper-middle levels, which will require reliable water access.

With the population projected to reach 118 million by 2050 and more than half living in urban areas, water demand is expected to rise significantly.

Dr Nchimbi commended Tanzania’s achievements in water management, noting that the country has become a model in Sub-Saharan Africa for implementing water projects and has been recognised in line with Africa’s Agenda 2063.

Speaking on the 2026 World Water Day theme, “Water and Gender Equality,” he stressed that women and girls remain the most affected by water scarcity, often facing safety risks when collecting water.

He noted that globally, water-related challenges affecting women result in economic losses equivalent to nearly 5 per cent of global GDP, or over 170 billion US dollars annually.

“The theme challenges all Tanzanians to actively participate, recognising that planning and implementing water projects is a shared responsibility between men and women to ensure accountability and sustainability,” he said.

Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso assured the Vice-President that, following President Samia’s directive, the ministry is fully committed to providing reliable water services to both urban and rural Tanzanians.