AfricaPress-Tanzania: OVER 150 clean and safe water wells worth 9m/- each have been constructed in Misungwi District as part of community projects implemented by Social Action Fund (Tasaf) to its beneficiaries.
District Tasaf Coordinator Gloria Buname told reporters on Thursday that, not only water wells, but also over 30 ponds, were in place, to support farming activities.
“They serve as irrigation schemes and this is part of the projects initiated by residents and Tasaf implements them in collaboration with beneficiaries. They voluntarily engage in various construction activities for four hours per day and get paid 2,300/- each. We have been implementing various community projects since 2015 to 2019 and are all already in use,” she said.
She further explained 6,764 Misungwi residents had been verified to continue benefiting from Tasaf’s third phase of the Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN) projects, launched by President John Magufuli last year.
“The number is 8,770, but some beneficiaries didn’t participate in a verification exercise due to various reasons. They are waiting for the next session. Those who have been verified will continue initiating projects of priority in their areas and Tasaf will implement them,” she said.
Commenting on water wells and pond projects, a Nyangomango resident, Ms Switbertha Magessa, praised the government, saying people’s lives were at stake as they used to wake up around midnight, travelling long distances to look for water.
She added that a pond project supported their income generating activities because almost every household, be it a Tasaf beneficiary or not, engaged in full time farming activities because water from the ponds was used throughout the year.
“We mostly engage in fruit and vegetable farming. We no longer walk for long distances in search of water for our livestock. The youth engage in water business, especially in construction activities in the village and other neighbouring villages,” she said.
