AfricaPress-Tanzania: DEPUTY Minister for Water Maryprisca Mahundi has urged Dodoma Urban Water and Sewerage Authority (Duwasa) Board of Directors to improve service delivery in the region.
Speaking during the launch of the sixth council of Duwasa workers in Dodoma, she said: “The board must understand it is the overall supervisor of the authority not a management unit in the authority.”
She wanted the council of workers to help remind the board of its duties. “This is also one of the responsibilities of the council of workers in an institution,” she said. The council must work diligently in advising the government and management to implement to improve service delivery.
Recently, there has been a shortage of water supply in the region caused by an increase in the number of population and new settlements. She called for efficiency, improvement of work ethic and incentives to employees.
The deputy minister urged the authority to deliberate on opportunities and challenges facing the utility with a view to improving service delivery and improve working conditions in the workplace.
“Productivity is a result of better performance. Duwasa must focus on enhancing services to its customers without compromising the interest of its employees,” she said at the meeting also attended by Duwasa Board Chairman, Prof Faustine Bee.
Duwasa Acting Director-General Aron Joseph said the council involved 63 members and it was charged with raising awareness on the legislation, rules and regulations governing the authority.
Praising the new council, Prof Bee called for collaboration between the council and the management to help improve service delivery and productivity of the utility. He said Duwasa was committed to improving service in the region and addressing challenges that customers faced.
Prof Bee said the current strategic plan targeted to reduce non-revenue water from 26 per cent and subsequently raise the authority’s revenue collection. “We want to move faster in servicing our customers efficiently and effectively,” he said, adding that the plan was also to end water blues among residents.
He said the authority was also working hard to address the quantity of salinity in its tap water.
