Samia inaugurates water project delayed for 20 years

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has finally inaugurated the long-awaited water project which was delayed for almost two decades.

The Same-Mwanga-Korogwe project, built at Sh406.07 billion aims to provide clean water to over 300,000 residents in Kilimanjaro region.

The project, which sources water from the Nyumba ya Mungu Dam, faced numerous setbacks, including funding shortages and bureaucratic hurdles.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Sunday March 9, 2025, President Hassan recounted the delays, emphasising her administration’s commitment to completing stalled projects and ensuring that citizens get access to essential services.

According to her, the feasibility study of the project was done in 2006 but construction commenced in 2014 and initial water dropped in 2024.

“The project stalled for a very long time. But because I do not believe in failing, I directed my assistants to ensure that the project is finalised. We worked hard to secure affordable loans, and now we have the funds that made it possible to complete the project,” she said during a commissioning ceremony.

Despite its potential to transform the lives of thousands, the project remained incomplete for years, forcing residents to struggle with severe water shortages.

President Hassan highlighted the extensive efforts made to ensure the project was revived, noting that her administration had to secure concessional loans to facilitate its completion.

“We requested loans with favourable terms, and we finally obtained the necessary funding,” she said.

She further explained that due to the project’s importance, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa had to frequently travel to Kilimanjaro to follow up on the progress of the project.

“Now, I take great pride in the fact that this project is finally complete. My greatest joy is that people have already started benefiting from the water supply,” she added.

The first phase of the project has significantly increased the water supply capacity to six million litres per day, she said, adding that the project will reach 38 villages in Same and Mwanga districts, improving access to water for thousands of households.

In the next phase, she said, the project will extend to Korogwe district of the Tanga region.

“Now, water is available 24 hours a day. This will greatly ease the burden on residents and allow them to focus on other productive activities instead of spending hours searching for water,” she said.

Beyond household use, the project is expected to boost economic activities in the region.

“Investors who require a reliable water supply will now have greater confidence in setting up businesses,” she noted.

During her speech, President Hassan directed the minister for Water to ensure that 10 additional villages surrounding the Nyumba ya Mungu Dam are connected to the water system. Currently, only four villages have been connected.

“The communities living around this project are its primary stakeholders because they serve as the first line of defence in protecting the water source. If we overlook them, they may lose the motivation to safeguard the project,” she said.

According to the president, more than 1,500 households have already been connected to the system since last year, and she urged authorities to speed up the connection process so that more residents can benefit.

She also emphasised the need for fair billing practices, directing the Ministry of Water to ensure that residents pay only for the amount of water they use.

“I know the Ministry still faces financial challenges but I instructed the Minister to find pre-paid water meters that will enable people to pay according to their usage,” she said.

While reaffirming the government’s commitment to making water affordable, she assured the public that private companies would not be allowed to take control of water management, as this could lead to higher prices for consumers.

According to the Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso, the Nyumba ya Mungu water source has the capacity to hold 103 million liters of water.

“Given that the daily demand for water in Same and Mwanga districts is only 6 million liters, there is still significant potential for expansion,” she said, adding that the project will permanently resolve water shortages in the region.