Residents of 10 villages in Mtambwe Constituency, Wete District, have received water distribution pipes worth TZS3.2 million in an intervention aimed at easing longstanding challenges in accessing clean water.
The materials were handed over on October 29, 2026, by Mtambwe Representative Dr Mohammed Ali Suleiman, who is also Zanzibar's Minister for Communication, Information Technology and Innovation, during a visit to Bagamoyo Village to engage residents and hear their concerns.
The intervention is expected to improve water distribution to households, with some communities having experienced prolonged interruptions in supply.
Speaking during the handover, Dr Suleiman urged residents to ensure the pipes are used for their intended purpose, warning against diverting them to agricultural or livestock activities.
"These pipes are intended for distributing water to residents, not for agriculture or livestock," he said.
He said the donation was prompted by persistent water challenges in the constituency, which have forced some residents to travel long distances to fetch water.
"We want our elderly people to stop carrying buckets to fetch water from distant places. We want residents to be able to access water within or just outside their homes," he said.
For residents, the intervention offers hope of restoring a service that has remained unavailable in some areas for years.
Suleiman Omar, a resident of Shengejuu Village, said the community had gone six years without water services, describing the donation as an important step towards addressing the problem.
He said restoring the supply would spare residents the burden of travelling long distances in search of water.
Piki Ward Councillor Seif Masoud Sheha urged residents in other villages to communicate their challenges to their representative to enable them to be addressed.
The 10 beneficiary villages are Kele-Ugoni, Mashuga, Mavuika, Shengejuu, Daya, Chunjaani, Mitambuuni, Machengwe, Kele-Msikitini and Uondwe.
The allocation includes different quantities and sizes of pipes for the respective villages, depending on their requirements.
While the donation is expected to support efforts to improve water access, its impact will ultimately depend on the timely installation of the pipes, availability of adequate water sources and reliable maintenance of the distribution systems.
For households that have endured years of unreliable supply, the priority will be turning the donated materials into functioning connections that bring water closer to their homes.