Residents of Usangu have been urged to step up protection of water sources as growing demand for the resource puts pressure on supplies supporting agriculture, livestock keeping and household needs.
Rufiji Basin Water Director David Munkyala said communities must treat conservation of water sources as a shared responsibility, particularly in an area where water is central to economic activity.
He made the call on October 3, 2026, in Mbarali District, Mbeya Region, during the launch of the Rufiji Basin Cup football tournament, which is being used to raise awareness about water and environmental conservation.
“Many people in Usangu depend on water, particularly for agriculture and other productive activities. We must therefore ensure that we protect water resources and pay water-use fees on time to facilitate various conservation and community development activities,” Mr Munkyala said.
Usangu is an important agricultural area, with water playing a central role in crop production and livestock keeping. The call for greater community involvement comes as authorities and conservation partners seek to strengthen efforts to protect water sources and the wider environment.
Mr Munkyala said timely payment of water-use fees was also necessary because the revenue helps finance activities related to water conservation and community development.
He said the Rufiji Basin Water Board was implementing the NBS Usangu project in partnership with organisations including LSF and Save Life Organization of Tanzania (SALIOTA).
The project includes community engagement activities, with SALIOTA coordinating the Rufiji Basin Cup, a football competition involving teams from 45 villages.
Mr Munkyala said sport could provide an effective platform for reaching communities with messages on protecting water sources, particularly among young people.
He also urged organisers and participating teams to ensure the competition was conducted peacefully and fairly, saying its performance would influence decisions on future support.
“We will continue working with stakeholders and assess the results of this tournament. If we are satisfied with how it is conducted in peace and stability, we may increase the prizes in 2027,” he said.
He challenged participants to use the tournament to demonstrate responsible behaviour and strengthen cooperation among communities.
SALIOTA Executive Director Elisha Mwanikawaga said the NBS Usangu project covers 45 of the 102 villages in Mbarali District and 16 of the district's 20 wards.
He said the Rufiji Basin Water Board had entrusted SALIOTA with some project activities, including coordinating the football league.
Mr Mwanikawaga said the tournament was intended to go beyond sport by encouraging communities to address environmental challenges, protect water sources and reduce activities that contribute to environmental degradation.
He said communities were being encouraged to stop indiscriminate tree cutting and adopt cleaner sources of energy, including electricity, to reduce pressure on the environment.
The initiative comes at a time when the protection of water sources is increasingly linked to the sustainability of farming and other economic activities in Usangu.
Organisers said combining sport with environmental education was intended to make conservation messages more accessible to communities, particularly young people.
For residents whose livelihoods depend on reliable water supplies, the message is straightforward: protecting water sources is not only an environmental responsibility but also essential to sustaining production and household needs in the area.