By Our Reporter
Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi has called for faster implementation of water projects, insisting that public investments must translate into reliable services for citizens.
Speaking during the laying of the foundation stone for the Sh105.7 billion Rujewa Water Project, Mr Ndejembi directed officials in the Ministry of Water to strengthen supervision, ensure accountability and address implementation challenges promptly.
The project, part of the 28 Towns Water Supply Project, is expected to benefit more than 500,000 people in Rujewa, Wanging’ombe and Makambako.
It is being implemented by the Tanzanian Government in collaboration with the Government of India as part of efforts to expand access to clean and safe water under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration.
Mr Ndejembi commended the Ministry of Water for supervising the project but urged engineers, contractors and other officials to uphold professionalism and integrity to ensure the works are completed on schedule.
He said the government expected development projects to deliver tangible results, stressing that delays in implementation prolonged the difficulties faced by communities struggling to access essential services.
The Vice President also directed the ministry to find lasting solutions to water shortages in affected areas while introducing emergency measures where necessary.
He emphasised the need for close project monitoring and prudent use of public funds, saying accountability was essential to achieving the government’s goal of improving water access across the country.
Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso said the government was committed to completing water projects on time, adding that citizens needed to see results rather than processes that unnecessarily delay service delivery.
He said the ministry would continue monitoring implementation and resolving emerging challenges to ensure communities benefit from the government’s investment.
Mr Aweso also pledged to secure Sh1 billion for the Chimala Water Project, which is 65 per cent complete but has faced funding challenges.
He said the funding commitment was in line with the Vice President’s directive to address bottlenecks affecting water projects and ensure they are completed for the benefit of residents.
Presenting the implementation report, project engineer Lestus M. Linda said the Rujewa project had reached an average completion rate of 80 per cent and was expected to be completed in November 2026.
He said the project was designed to address a widening gap between water supply and demand in Rujewa, Wanging’ombe and Makambako, where population growth and expanding economic activities have increased pressure on existing infrastructure.
The three towns currently produce a combined 8.706 million litres of water daily against demand of 30.141 million litres, leaving a significant shortfall.
Under the project, the Mbarali River will serve as the main water source, with the planned system expected to produce and treat up to 40 million litres per day.
Of this capacity, 15 million litres will be allocated to Rujewa, while Wanging’ombe and Makambako will receive a combined 25 million litres daily.
Launched in April 2023, the project involves the construction of a water intake, a treatment plant, three storage tanks with a combined capacity of eight million litres, pumping stations and 54.4 kilometres of water transmission and distribution pipelines.
Construction of the water intake and a five-million-litre storage tank has reached 95 per cent completion, while the treatment plant is 88 per cent complete. Installation of the main transmission pipeline from Rujewa through Wanging’ombe to Makambako has reached 90 per cent.
The project is being implemented by India’s Larsen & Toubro Construction Limited under the supervision of WAPCOS Limited.
Upon completion, the project is expected to significantly improve access to clean and safe water in the three towns, supporting the government’s target of extending the service to 95 per cent of the urban population.
Mr Ndejembi concluded his working visit to Mbeya Region by reiterating the need for effective supervision, accountability and timely implementation of development projects to ensure that public investments deliver meaningful benefits to citizens.