AfricaPress-Tanzania: RESIDENTS in various localities within Iringa District in Iringa Region have commended the government for successful construction of various water projects.
The villagers claimed that they were previously forced to walk for long distances in search of the precious liquid.
Speaking during a visit by CCM regional political committee, the residents said they have been experiencing water woes for many years, the situation which contributed to the outbreak of waterborne diseases including cholera.
Barika Issa, a resident of Izazi village in the district thanked the government through the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) for completing a water project, thus they are now accessing clean and safe water.
She said: “We were spending hours in search of water; some of our girls could not go to school to help their parents to fetch water.”
Tumaini Mpogola said that they were drinking water from unsafe sources and sometimes sharing it with animals including cattle, goats and donkeys.
Richard Luhala, Chairman of Mfyome village in Kiwere ward, thanked the government for completing renovation of a water project in their village.
He said they can now access clean and safe water throughout the day. He said the project had stopped functioning since 2010. He said previously, the villagers were buying a 20 litres bucket of water at 1,000/-.
Iringa regional political committee chaired by CCM regional chairman Dr Abel Nyamahanaga visited the villages to inspect implementation of various projects as per the 2020-2025 CCM election manifesto.
RUWASA Manager in Iringa District, Eng Masoud Samila said that 96 percent of Izazi villages have access to clean and safe water. He said they are working to complete the remaining four percent.
He said construction of the Izazi-Mnadani water project started in December 2014 through the Water Sector Development Programme (WSDP) and the Water and Sanitation Sub-Programme (RWSSP).
Engineer Samila added that the Pawaga-Mlenge water project implemented through WSDP and WSSP will benefit about 30,258 residents from Ilolompya, Mboliboli, Itunundi, and Mlenge wards.
He said the agency is also repairing water projects at Mfyome village in Kiwere ward.
RUWASA manager in Iringa Region, Eng Joyce Bahati said that many water projects have been inherited from the council after the establishment of the agency.
The ruling party’s chairman in the region, Dr Abel Nyamahanga called upon water users to protect the projects since they have been implemented by the government at higher costs.
“The government spent billions of money to ensure you have access to clean water. Let us protect the projects so that they last longer and benefit many people,” he said.
