VP’s ten directives on water sources and climate change
Vice President Philip Mpango waters a tree seedling in Mbeya yesterday when he launched a nationwide water conservation programme. PHOTO | VPO
What you need to know:
- Vice President Philip Mpango has issued ten directives as part of wider efforts to protect water sources across the country, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change
Dar es Salaam/Mbeya. Vice President Philip Mpango yesterday issued ten directives as part of efforts to protect and preserve the country’s water sources and fight climate change impacts.
This comes at a time when Dar es Salaam and Coast region have been hit by an acute water shortage, prompting President Samia Suluhu Hassan to unveil the government’s short and long-term plans to ease water rationing.
The plans include connecting the city with deep wells at Kigamboni, which will pump about 70 million litres per day into the city, and the Kidunda water reservoir project.
Dr Mpango issued the directives at the launch of a major water conservation plan, saying water is life, and everyone should be involved in protecting and preserving the valuable resource.
He directed the Agriculture ministry to conduct a detailed hydrological survey of the country’s nine water basins so as to identify the rate at which water was being diverted for irrigation and the return flows.
“This is a very serious issue, and we need to act accordingly. As for those blocking the flow of water at the Ihefu catchment along the Ruaha River, they should stop doing so immediately, or face legal action,” Dr Mpango warned.
He also said government institutions and the relevant experts should place beacons at all identified water sources countrywide, and individuals who have settled in the areas should be relocated by being provided with alternative land parcels.
“Regional administrations should take firm legal action against individuals who destroy water sources. This includes cutting down trees and clearing land by fire.”
Dr Mpango directed regional secretariats to be careful on the issuance of permits to people burning charcoal in order to conserve forests.
He also said the Energy and Finance and Planning ministries should consider ways of lowering the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
“As for Dar es Salaam, where more than 50 percent of the country’s charcoal is consumed, the regional commissioner and other stakeholders should work together to end the use of charcoal by 2025. It’s possible if we mean business. Apart from LPG, there are other environmentally friendly sources that can be utilised.”
The Vice President urged the relevant authorities to protect water sources under their watch.
And for the regions that do not have adequate water sources, they should plan water harvest infrastructure in conjunction with the ministries responsible for energy, agriculture, livestock, and fishing.
Dr Mpango directed the corruption watchdog PCCB to pay special attention to the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), saying there were hints of corruption within the agency.
“NEMC ought to be guided by the law in protecting the environment. Don’t allow mining activities at or near water catchment areas, and deal firmly with dishonest servants. In fact, the PCCB should take a closer look at NEMC because there are lot of underhand dealings going on,” Dr Mpango said.
He directed NEMC to work together with the ministry responsible for natural resources and tourism to encourage carbon trading as well as other measures meant to protect the environment.
The ministries of land and livestock were tasked with setting aside land for commercial grazing.
“The Ministry of Land should allocate areas for commercial livestock keeping. We want to move away from the traditional way of keeping livestock. This will reduce conflicts over water as grazing will only be allowed in specific areas,” he said.
Dr Mpango also directed the Agriculture ministry and the National Irrigation Commission to increase water use efficiency by adopting new irrigation technologies that use less water.
Households, education and religious institutions, non-governmental organisations should plant trees in their respective areas close to or around water catchment basins, as well as set up rainwater harvesting systems.
“As for the country’s forest agency, TFS, we will need to produce enough seedlings that are water friendly as we don’t want to have trees that will dry the land by consuming more water as has happened in other parts of the country.”
The Vice President was of the view that appropriated trees should be uprooted and replaced with right ones, and that TFS should guide by providing the right seedlings to regions according to their climate as the exercise is to be carried countrywide.
Earlier, Water minister Jumaa Aweso said he had been assured by Prof Dos Santos Silayo, the TFS conservation commissioner, that although the government plans to plant 2.5 water friendly trees, the agency has at least 12 million seedlings.
“We need to work together to preserve water as if we fail, then we will fall into water stress and even huge projects for power generation will be meaningless, yet billions have been invested,” he said.
Mr Aweso added that the country has total water resources amounting to 226 billion cubic metres, adding, “The amount has been there since 1961 when Tanganyika had only 10 million population. Now we are more than 61 million but still with same resource.
The minister was of the view that water resources don’t increase yet the people do increase and therefore, protecting and preserving water catchments and water springs was of vital importance if Tanzania is to achieve its economic ambitions.
