Water sector in Tanzania stands to get a huge face-lift, following a move by the Tanzanian government experts to partner with Poland government,seeking to amend the water sector in the country.
On September 20th, Deputy Minister of Water, Juma Aweso who led the meeting along-side Poland government experts in capital city Dodoma, stated that: the meeting sole focus is to explore various areas to for improve , primarily wastewater infrastructures, energy demands, clean water supply, and management.
Tanzania stands at a significant point to harness billions from its water resources, this is due to the huge water potential it has, including it’s decent share of African great lakes: 51 per cent of Lake Victoria and 46 per cent of Lake Tanganyika.
Further, Ministry of Water envisions to secure water supply across Tanzania, within possible lengths of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) number 6- clean water and sanitation, Five Year Development Plan (2016/2017 to 2020/2021) and Water Sector Development Programme.
READ: International water day: Access to water for all in Tanzania
Therefore, Tanzania water sector could be the next paying economic apparatus, with keen assistance from Poland, coming in with their significant experience in the respective sector.
At present, available water resources in Tanzania stand to be at 126 billion meter cubic per year. On the same note, it is estimated by 2035, water demands will rise to 57 billion meter cubic.
Currently, Tanzania annual water demands are on domestic, industrial and irrigation spheres, estimated at 40 billion meter cubic. A less package-of-demand compared to water resource available of 126 billion meter cubic per year.
In light of the estimated water demand rise, the government plans on improving rural water availability via robust water initiatives.
According to Ministry of Water, until April 2019, various rural water projects implemented by the government and other water-stakeholders, are providing water to 25,359,290 million (64.8 per cent) people living in rural areas.
Therefore, with the latter in hand, it is fair to say that: Tanzania has attained rather a significant milestone, in the grand plan of providing water services in rural areas, within 400 meters of households by 85 per cent in 2020.
Moreover, Poland and Tanzania look forward to open up more possible opportunities, to strengthen capacities within respective crucial areas (energy, waste-water infrastructures, and water supply and management) to be amended by sector.
More importantly, Tanzania is making water supply a priority. In the financial year 2019/2020, Ministry of Water allocated a budget of over $275.9 million.
Further, Poland Deputy Foreign Minister, Marcin Przydacz, commented on Poland’s role in developing the sector in Tanzania, by offering its rich experience in the sector, which was gained gradually throughout the years.
According to the Ministry’s three years estimates (2016 to 2019), municipal water supply authorities, lose up to 33 per cent of water which is equivalent to $22.181 million, annually.
While, populous commercial city -Dar es Salaam, water supply authority (DAWASA), reported a 43 per cent water loss, equivalent to $34.79 million.
In that context, Tanzania has a huge package of technical issues to attend in the water sector. With the significant amount of water and revenue lost in it, Poland and Tanzania strategies stand to impact local economies
