Morogoro’s river diversion initiative faces disinterest

Morogoro. Community participation in the Morogoro River diversion project has begun to dwindle, with some residents failing to attend the voluntary work.

The initiative, which aims to prevent flooding by diverting the river, comes after the waterway has been blocked for over a decade, causing seasonal flooding in the region.

Speaking to The Citizen on Wednesday, February 26. 2025, a resident of the area, Ms Alodia Denial (25) explained that while the initiative began with enthusiasm in January, the pace has slowed due to limited follow-up by local leaders.

Before the project began, a meeting was held to determine the best paths for diverting the water.

The consensus was that the river’s diversion was necessary to protect homes.

Initially, many residents participated, as a Sh20,000 fine was imposed for non-participation.

However, Ms Denial noted that attendance has since dropped, and the absence of fines may have demotivated some people.

"The number of people turning up has decreased daily. Initially, many participated despite the fine, but now it’s different. I haven’t heard of anyone being fined, and that might have contributed to the decline in volunteer numbers," she said.

Another resident, Habibu Katanda, pointed out that some leaders and citizens have not attended the worksite.

Even committee members responsible for managing the project have been absent, further demotivating those who did show up.

"We’ve made progress in diverting the water in one area, but more work is needed to manage the flow ahead of the rainy season. We’re using simple tools like hoes and machetes. If more people volunteer, success will be easier to achieve through unity," said Katanda.

Mambi Neighbourhood executive officer Anthony Alfonce explained that 116 out of 368 households in the area are usually affected by flooding.

“The diversion effort is progressing well, with work taking place twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as residents volunteer to create a new path for the river’s water,” he said.

However, he added that some leaders and residents have given excuses for not participating, and 20 households have already received warning letters for failing to show up without explanation.

Ngerengere Basin Water Engineer Nangu Makula stated that the Wami-Ruvu Basin team would seek additional stakeholders to help provide the necessary equipment for the project.