In a move set to transform lives in Handeni District, Absa Bank Tanzania and World Vision Tanzania have officially handed over a TZS 50 million solar-powered water project to the residents of Kwedizinga Village, providing safe and reliable water access to over 3,800 people.
The project, which includes a deep solar-powered borehole, a 50,000-liter elevated storage tank, and a gravity-fed distribution network with 10 water collection points, was commissioned during a ceremony attended by local leaders, development partners, and community members.
The guest of honor was the Tanga Regional Commissioner, Dr. Batilda Burian, represented by Handeni District Commissioner Hon. Salum Nyamwese.
Absa Bank Tanzania’s Head of Marketing and Corporate Relations, Mr. Aron Luhanga, described the initiative as a testament to the bank’s commitment to social impact.
“This is more than just a water project it’s a story of hope, humanity, and opportunity,” he said. “For years, lack of access to safe water held back the children of Kwedizinga. Today, we’re fulfilling our purpose of empowering Africa’s tomorrow together, one story at a time.”
Previously, villagers relied on seasonal ponds that dried up during the dry season. Women and children would walk over two kilometers daily to fetch unsafe water, exposing families to waterborne diseases.
Now, thanks to the 180-meter-deep well and efficient solar-powered system, families across the village’s seven hamlets can collect clean water from nearby collection points.
World Vision Tanzania’s National Director, Mr. James Anditi, said the project is part of the organization’s broader Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) strategy aimed at protecting children’s health, education, and well-being.
“Clean water is the foundation of health and opportunity,” he said. “We are grateful to Absa Bank for making this vision a reality. Children in Kwedizinga can now spend more time in class instead of fetching water, and families are safer from preventable diseases like diarrhea and typhoid.”
Representing the Tanga Regional Commissioner, Salum Nyamwese hailed the initiative as a successful model of private-public collaboration.
“This project proves that when government and partners join forces, real change happens,” he said. “Let this be a national example of how to meet community needs through shared responsibility.”
The initiative supports Phase III of the Water Sector Development Programme (WSDP) and contributes directly to global development goals, including Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4 on Quality Education, and SDG 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation.
For the people of Kwedizinga, the project marks a turning point a future where access to clean water is no longer a dream, but a reality.