“My grandchild, when you finish fetching water, make sure you lock the water tap properly. Water is more valuable than anything else in our place,” says 62-year-old Fatuma Hanzuruni, a resident of Ujiji in Kigoma Region.
Her words reflect a reality that shaped the lives of many Tanzanian communities for decades, particularly women. For many years, the search for water defined the daily routine of countless women and girls across the country.
Before sunrise, often in cold and misty conditions, women and young girls would carry buckets and containers on their heads and walk long distances to lakes, rivers, wells and ponds in search of water for drinking, cooking and maintaining household hygiene.
These journeys were not only exhausting but also dangerous. Women travelled long distances to unsafe water sources, risking encounters with wild animals and exposure to waterborne diseases.
The time spent fetching water limited their participation in income-generating activities and community development. For young girls, it often meant missing school and losing valuable learning opportunities.
In some tragic cases, these daily journeys caused serious injuries, long-term health complications or even loss of life.
Through sustained government investment in the water sector, Tanzania has witnessed a major expansion of water supply infrastructure across both rural and urban areas.
Clean and safe water services are increasingly being brought closer to communities, reducing the burden that women have carried for generations.
For many households today, water is accessible within a short distance from residential areas, significantly reducing the time and effort previously required to obtain it.
Women no longer need to walk long distances carrying heavy buckets of water for hours each day. Instead, many now have the opportunity to devote their time to productive activities such as farming, small businesses and caring for their families.
This shift is contributing not only to improved household livelihoods but also to broader national economic growth.
As Tanzania marks International Women’s Day, progress in the water sector stands as a powerful example of how improving basic services can promote gender equality and inclusive development.
This progress also aligns with the national vision of strengthening women’s rights and equality as a key pillar for achieving Tanzania’s development ambitions, including Vision 2050.
Under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Sixth Phase Government has continued to prioritise water sector development with the goal of “lifting the water bucket off women’s heads”.
According to government statistics, access to water services in rural areas has increased from 79.9 percent to 85.2 percent, while urban access has risen from 84 percent to 92.5 percent as of December 2025. These figures continue to improve as more projects are implemented across the country.
In rural areas alone, 1,965 water projects have been completed, serving 5,521 villages and increasing the number of villages with water services to 10,779 out of a total of 12,333 nationwide.
In urban areas, 366 water supply projects have been completed, benefiting more than 6.2 million people.
Several major strategic water projects are also underway. These include the Kidunda Dam Project in Morogoro Region, the Kiwira Water Project in Mbeya Region, and the Simiyu Climate Change Adaptation Project, which uses water from Lake Victoria.
Other completed projects include the Same–Mwanga–Korogwe water project, Mugango–Kiabakari–Butiama project, Tinde–Shelui project, Nzega–Igunga–Tabora water project and the Butimba–Mwanza water supply project.
These initiatives form part of the government’s long-term National Water Grid Plan aimed at ensuring reliable and sustainable water services for all Tanzanians.
When opening Parliament on November 14, 2025, President Samia reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing water challenges.
“I am a mother, and the majority of those suffering from water challenges are women. I do not want to hear or see women in this country suffering because of water shortages,” she said.
“I pray that the Sixth Phase Government will not only be measured by the infrastructure it leaves behind, but also by the smile of dignity it leaves on the faces of Tanzanians.”
Her remarks highlight the human dimension of water access beyond infrastructure and statistics.
Water is not simply a daily necessity. It is a vital driver of national development. From agriculture and industry to health and education, nearly every sector depends on reliable water resources.
Within many communities, women play a central role in water use, conservation and management. Their involvement in water governance and decision-making therefore strengthens efforts to protect and sustainably manage water resources.
Reliable access to clean and safe water restores dignity, improves public health and unlocks economic opportunities for both rural and urban communities.
To sustain these achievements, women and girls must continue to be recognised as key partners in water resource protection and management.
Their voices and leadership are essential in ensuring that water systems remain sustainable for future generations.
The absence of reliable water services reminds many communities of the hardships of the past conditions that the nation must work hard to ensure never return.
Continued investment in water infrastructure, environmental conservation, public awareness and sustainable resource management will therefore remain essential.
Water is more than a service. It is a catalyst for economic growth, social transformation and national resilience.Strengthening water resource security today means strengthening Tanzania’s future.
