Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government will focus on completing more than 1,500 ongoing water projects across the country in the 2025/26 financial year, with the aim of expanding access to clean and safe water in both rural and urban areas.
Presenting the budget estimates for his docket before the National Assembly yesterday, Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso outlined the sector’s key priorities and execution plan for the coming financial year.
According to the Minister, the focus will be on the completion of 1,544 ongoing water projects of which 1,318 are in rural areas and 226 in urban centres.
The plan also includes the finalisation of the National Water Master Plan, protection and development of water sources, including the drilling of boreholes and construction of rainwater harvesting infrastructure, and strengthening of water quality monitoring systems.
Minister Aweso said that one of the key undertakings in the coming year will be the continued rollout of the National Water Grid, a long-term strategy to connect major water sources to regions facing chronic shortages.
“Among the strategic interventions will be supplying water from Lake Victoria to Dodoma and Singida, Lake Tanganyika to Kigoma, Katavi and Rukwa, Ruvuma River to Mtwara and Lindi and Rufiji River to Dar es Salaam and Coast regions,” he said.
He added, “We also plan to channel water from Lakes Victoria and Nyasa to the surrounding rural communities to reduce the burden of fetching water.”
In his presentation, Minister Aweso requested a total of 1.016tril/- for the Ministry’s 2025/26 operations. This marks a 62 per cent increase from the 627.78bn/- approved in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
He said 943.12bn/- are allocated for development projects, while 73.78bn/- will cover recurrent expenditure.
The 2025/26 plan will also see enhanced monitoring of both surface and groundwater resources.
“The ministry intends to conduct surveys to identify new sources, rehabilitate 100 existing water management stations, and build 50 new stations for groundwater monitoring, efforts will be made to train water user groups and catchment committees,” he told the august House.
For rural water supply and sanitation, the ministry plans to continue implementing 1,318 rural water projects, with a goal to increase rural access to water services from the current 83 per cent to over 85 per cent.
In areas yet to receive service, including 1,781 villages, a special programme will be implemented.
In urban areas, the government plans to implement 226 water projects, which include expanding water distribution systems in fastgrowing towns such as Dar es Salaam, Iringa, Ruangwa in Lindi, Kigoma, Mpanda, Sumbawanga and the Mtwara-Mikindani Municipality.
“Some of the projects will also address climate change adaptation and improve urban sanitation, including the construction of modern sewage systems in Mbezi Beach (Dar es Salaam), Magufuli Town, and Buigiri in Dodoma,” he said.
He further said to address persistent challenges of water loss, the ministry will continue to implement strategies aimed at reducing nonrevenue water, the portion of water that is produced but lost through leaks, theft, or meter inaccuracies.
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