By Frank Aman, in Simiyu Region
The Government of Tanzania has pledged to spend nearly Sh1 billion on the implementation of rural water services projects in Maswa District, Shinyanga Region.
The allocated fund will provide clean and safe water to residents who are living in more than 20 villages which were previously not connected to the main sources of Water in Maswa District Council.
Speaking to residents of the three wards who are the beneficiaries of the deep wells Water projects under the Maswa Urban Water Supply Services (Mauwasa) that will serve nearly 29 villages within the district, Simiyu Regional Commissioner Mr Yahya Nawanda said that up to yesterday when he inaugurated these projects, he said at least 11 villages have already been connected to the service and residents of the area are now benefitting the services.
He said that the establishment of this project that will be installed in public areas to provide Water Services to the surrounding communities will reduce the burden that the surrounding community faces since independent.
He said that the establishment of one of these projects that were installed in a public place and will be governed by the Ward leader at Isanga ward in Maswa District Council, project will have a capacity of providing 11 litres of water per hour where the service will be connected to the residents in all 29 villages located at Nhuhu, Buchambi and Isanga wards.
“Apart from the connection of Water Services in all Stations in various parts of these wards, the services will also be channelled to the Maternity ward of the Isanga Dispensary to serve mothers during delivery and the service will also be channelled to other parts that are in need, the launch of this project is among the 19 Water Projects scheduled to be constructed in Simiyu region, adding that the project will pass through 11 villages,” he said.
For his part, Maswa District Commissioner Mr Aswege Kaminyoge said already the project is at the final stage of its implementation and nearly 98 per cent of the planned constriction process is complete and the project will have a capacity of providing 73 litres per hour and it will serve numbers of villages including Isanga and Njia panda villages.
He added that in all projects that the Simiyu RC had passed through, it shows that 98 per cent of its construction process has been completed and currently they have established local leadership that will be responsible for managing and protecting the projects including providing security of all assets installed.
“The government plan is to ensure up to 2025 we will be able to reach nearly 95 per cent of the residents of Maswa District compare to the current situation where has reached only 78 per cent, we have also planned to reach all 120 villages which are within Maswa District Council,” he said.
Speaking about the launched project, the Rural and Urban Water Supply Authority (Ruwasa) in Simiyu region Eng. Mariam Majala said the project launched will cost Sh534 million and its implementation started in March this year adding that the source of the water for this project is a deep well which has the capacity of providing 73,000 litres of water.
“Currently we are at the complete process of this Water Tank, and after it completes it will be able to provide water services to Njia Panda and Isanga villages, also other water projects that are taking place is to underline water pipes so that the services can reach a large number of people and be able to provide the service house to house,” she said.
She said that for Kizungu and Inenhwa wards, the government has provided Sh500 million to implement other water projects, some other projects including connecting water services to three villages that include Funika, Isanga and Nhuhu ward and other parts of the road that goes to Shinyanga region, where currently the project has reached 95 per cent of its implementation.
“Currently we have completed the construction of this Water Tank and deep well has already being done where approximately the project will have a capacity of proving 73 litres of water and it will have the ability to serve the large number of Njia Panda and Isanga residents and to reach 25 suburbs,” she said.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to this paper said that the implantation of this project will also reduce the eruption of epidemic diseases as they used to fetch water from wells that are also being used by animals.
Mr Jitambi Maganga who is the Ward Chancellor for Isanga Ward assured the RC that as the reader who have been given authority to monitor and protect these projects they work together with Ruwasa to ensure the services reached all planned areas within the district.
On his part, Ward Chancellor for Funika ward in Maswa District, Ms. Getrude Lugoba said that they are happy to see the implementation of the project was completed and they are supporting government’s efforts to provide clean and safe water to the residents of the area due to the fact there several incidents have been facing residents of the area including rape incidents due to the fact that women used to walk in a long distance early in the morning to fetch water.
“We thank the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan for seeing the need of these people, women were suffering from various issues including rape acts, even their male counterparts also were in a worrying situation due to various incidents occurred to their families,” she said.
