By Our Reporter, Monduli
The Media and Information for Public Awareness and Community Support (MAIPAC) has received commendations from the residents of Selela Village, Monduli District, for the successful completion of a fence built to protect the Kabambe water source, located in Selela Ward, Monduli District, Arusha Region.
This vital water source had been facing the threat of depletion due to increased human activities and damage caused by both livestock and wildlife. The construction of the fence aims to preserve this valuable resource for the community.
During an inspection of the project, MAIPAC’s Director, Mussa Juma, and Project Manager, Andrea Ngobole, expressed their satisfaction with the construction of the fence, which stretches over 700 meters.
Juma explained that the project, which officially began in July of the previous year, was part of a larger initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Tanzania, under the coordination of the Vice President’s Office for Environment.
In addition to this, MAIPAC is continuing its efforts to document traditional knowledge from the Hadzabe, Datoga, and Maasai communities, focusing on environmental conservation and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
“We are immensely grateful to the Selela village government, the environmental committee, and the people of Selela for their invaluable cooperation, which has been crucial in the successful completion of this project,” Juma said.
Earlier, MAIPAC’s Project Manager, Ngobole, mentioned that a formal handover of the project would take place once Selela’s village government establishes a new environmental committee.
This committee will ensure that the project is properly maintained and continues under their management.
“We will officially hand over the project to the village government through the environmental committee, ensuring its long-term care and continued management by the community,” Ngobole added.
Selela Village Chairman, Longidonyi Lunda, praised MAIPAC for completing the project and called on the organization to continue supporting the village’s development initiatives.
“We kindly request further assistance in repairing the water pipes that were damaged by floods and in helping women establish income-generating projects,” Lunda said.
Ephrahimu Samweli, the contractor for the project, highlighted the long-term benefits for the community. With the new fence in place, livestock and wildlife can no longer access the water source, ensuring its protection.
“Now, anyone wishing to enter the water source area must first obtain permission from the village leaders to open the gate.
This will guarantee the safety of the water source for an extended period, and we anticipate a significant increase in water availability,” Samweli concluded.
This project is a significant step towards safeguarding the Kabambe water source and ensuring that the people of Selela Village have access to clean and reliable water for years to come.