Water Week marked but "water for all" remains a distant dream

Tanzanians have been marking the International Water Week (16-22 March) with little to celebrate as people in many parts of the east African nation struggle for the precious and indispensable fluid. The government's popular appeal of "water for all" is in deed a distant dream. Experts in the country's ministry of water say that in the past two decades, Tanzania has experienced increased pressure on available water resources. "The demand for water has increased considerably due to increased population and socioeconomic activities," the Ministry of Water said in a statement issued to coincide with celebrations marking the International Water Week. "The present demand in most sectors of the economy far outstrips supply." The ministry said presently, the country's urban and rural water supply coverage was about 73 percent and 53 percent respectively, for domestic use. This means that three in 10 urban residents have difficulty in accessing clean and safe water, while one in two of their rural counterparts has a similar experience. However, the government is committed to realising its vision of improving water supply to reach 90 percent of the population, under its National Development Vision for 2025. Senior officials have repeatedly said that without availability of water for domestic and other use, the country could not achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction. The nation's water policy targets are to raise the proportion of rural population that has access to safe and clean water from 53 percent to 65 percent by June 2009 and for the urban population in the same period from 73 percent to 90 percent. There is also pressure from the agricultural and energy sectors, where growth depends on increased supply of water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. Water Minister Stephen Wassira said in a message marking the climax (22 March) of the International Water Week that the government has been implementing various plans to improve water supply in a sustainable manner. These include sensitising and encouraging rural communities to establish village-level water committees and subsequently create village water funds for the management of finances for operational and maintenance of rural water supply schemes by the communities. As of June 2005, some 9,283 Village Water Committees and 8,099 Village Water Funds had been formed, at a cost of 1.07 billion shillings (US $14.8 million) and the ministry had registered 77 water user entities. "Community management has become Tanzania's leading concept for implementing water supply systems in rural areas," he said. In urban centres, there are 19 authorities responsible for developing supply schemes, where the strategies involve commercialisation of water supply and sanitation services, according to the ministry. Commercialisation is seen as the next step forward in urban water supply. Sewerage services would continue to be provided as part of an overall sanitation strategy for the urban area. However, plans for rural and urban water supply and sewerage services are only achievable if secure water resources are available, protected and used sustainably - a factor that is now a matter of serious concern. There are cases where pastoralists and farmers have invaded riverbeds leading to destruction of ecosystems and water supply to dams feeding hydropower generation plants. Environmentalists, for example, blame the current drought experienced in East Africa on uncontrolled felling of trees that has disturbed climatic trends.