The Ministry of Water will launch about 281 grand water projects, which upon completion will massively reduce water woes in different parts of the country.
The launching and laying of foundation stones will be done during the much-anticipated water week scheduled to take place between tomorrow and March 22nd, this year, according to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Eng. Anthony Sanga.
According to the PS, this year's theme is "Water for Development of Livelihoods".
He was however quick to point out that in celebration of the water week, there will be no official activities, instead, all technocrats supervising several water projects will be on different sites implementing the projects.
Speaking at a press conference here, Eng. Sanga said the launching of the projects was part of demonstration on what the fifth-phase Government under the leadership of President John Magufuli was doing to help people in having access to reliable water services.
"In this year's celebrations, we will not have official functions like seminars or symposiums, instead, we are planning to lay foundation stones and officially launch our key 281 projects," said Eng. Sanga.
During the week, Engineer Sanga said, there would be several other activities including tree planting exercise.
Tanzania started officially to mark the water week in 1988 as part of recognising the importance of water in people's livelihoods.
Addressing members of the media last week in Dodoma, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports who doubles as the Government Chief Spokesperson Dr. Hassan Abbasi among other things outlined the achievements in water services across the country.
According to official statistics implementation of water projects has increased access to clean and safe water from 47 percent in rural areas and 74 percent (Urban areas) in 2012 to about 72.3 percent and 86 percent respectively as of February 2021.
The Government's target is that by 2025 water services in urban areas should reach 95 percent, while in rural areas it is projected at 85 percent.
To breach the remaining gap 13 percent in rural areas and 9 percent in the urban, Dr. Abbasi said the Government is currently implementing several water projects that will help in meeting the target, empowering water regional water bodies as well as instituting appropriate legal actions against negligent officials who are delaying the implementation of the projects.
"As of February 2021, the Government implemented 1,845 water projects valued at 1.916tri/- which helped about 14,726,600 people to have access to water services. Out of those projects, 222 were implemented in urban areas while 1,626 were carried out in rural areas," he noted adding that the work was still on as 924 other projects valued at 2.2tri/- were being implemented countrywide, out of which 110 were in urban areas while 814 others were being implemented in rural areas.
Upon completion, the Government Chief Spokesperson said, about 1,207,450 people will have access to clean and safe water.
Speaking in the late of January during the inauguration of the 617bn/- water project at Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium in Tabora Region, President John Magufuli said water is life and its supply to the citizens should not be taken for granted.
The scheme that involves piping water from Lake Victoria, about 281-kilometer is a continuation of the Government's initiative to supply the area residents with clean and safe water, being one of the pledges Dr. Magufuli made to the people last year during the October General Elections.
Its inauguration came barely a day after President Magufuli had launched the 23.17bn/- Isaka-Kagongwa water project in Shinyanga Region.
The mega 617bn/- water project implemented by three Indian contractors- Megha Engineering Infrastructures, L&T Company and Shiram Company is funded with a loan from the Indian government and will benefit the residents of Tabora, Nzega and Igunga districts.
Another notable project is the one implemented in Arusha Region. The region has changed much from what it was then when the fifth-phase Government came to power in 2015, thanks to concerted efforts in place to provide them with safe and clean water.
Residents of many areas of the famous tourist hub enjoy supply of enough clean and safe water as well as disposal of wastewater in a mega project that cost 530bn/-started about two years immediately, President Magufuli ascended to power.
It was in fulfillment of his promise he made to the nationals in 2015 during the campaign, and when inaugurating the 11th Parliament late in the same year.
There are 924 projects worth 2.2tril/- currently undertaken by the Government, of which 110 are implemented in urban areas and 814 in rural areas.
Upon completion the projects will benefit 12,077,450 people.