AfricaPress-Tanzania: PRESIDENT John Magufuli has ordered water projects countrywide to be hastened and completed, saying Tanzanians want water not explanations about their delays.
In his address today while inaugurating Isaka-Kagongwa water project valued at 23.17bn/- in Shinyanga Region, Dr Magufuli disclosed how the water ministry has been his headache in implementing big projects with some being uncompleted.
“For some time they took it normal to see less than 30 per cent of their (ministry of water) projects becoming complete and cite reasons ranging from feasibility study to detailed designs and others, yet the citizens want water.
“I want the minister and you people in the ministry as well as all water engineers countrywide to ensure all water projects in their respective areas are completed…Tanzanians are tired of waiting for projects that are always in progress…these people are suffering from lack of water. “I want projects to be completed within the timeframe and sack contractors, who delay completing projects,” he directed the minister, Jumaa Aweso at the event held at Isagehe village to launch the Isaka-Kagongwa water project.
The major water scheme taps water from Lake Victoria to supply Isaka and Kagongwa small towns in Shinyanga region.
The project came following President Magufuli’s pledge to the residents during the 2015 election campaigns that his government will supply them with clean and safe water.
During the time, residents of the towns were facing severe water shortages against the demand of 4.69 million litres on daily basis, yet only 252,000 litres could be sourced.
The new project is expected to serve about 115,660 residents with 9.6 million litres per day that means it has a surplus of 113.3 per cent.
Initially, cost estimation was at 24.7bn/- but the Kahama/Shinyanga Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Kashuwasha) managed to implement it with 23.15bn/- (government funds) and saving 1.56bn/-.
“God has favoured us Tanzanians with several gifts including vast Lake Victoria… and the government has managed to tap water from the Lake to here in Shinyanga and Tabora…Lake water is useless if does not reach citizens for consumption and other uses,” he stated.
Equally, President Magufuli instructed that the 1.5bn/- saved from the implementation of the Isaka-Kagongwa project to be allocated for construction of other related infrastructures, which supply water to residents of the two towns.
“Today when I conclude my address, I want contractors to immediately start work of supplying water to the people of Isaka and Kagongwa so that they see the benefits of this project, they have suffered for so long,” he said.
However, he asked the citizens to safeguard the water projects which cost the government a lot of money, adding: “Lake water is treated with chemicals and safe for human consumption and I would not expect to see you using it to water bricks in your homesteads.”
