Residents of Saeni and Karabaka streets in Misugusugu Ward have been promised access to water and electricity by December, following complaints over prolonged service shortages.
Kibaha District Commissioner Fadhil E. Nkurlu has directed the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) and the Dar es Salaam and Coast Region Water and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA) to complete the remaining works and ensure households in the two streets are connected before the end of the year.
The directive follows concerns raised by residents during a public meeting in Misugusugu, where access to basic services, environmental pollution and the need for public infrastructure featured prominently.
Mr Nkurlu said the continued lack of water and electricity in parts of Kibaha was unacceptable, particularly as the area had attained municipal status.
He instructed the two utilities to treat the matter as a priority, insisting that residents should not continue living without essential services.
Representatives of TANESCO and DAWASA assured him that the services would be available by December, explaining that the necessary infrastructure had already been installed and only a few finishing works remained.
They also said funding for the outstanding work had been secured.
However, residents also raised concerns about environmental pollution allegedly caused by factories operating in the area, particularly the discharge of wastewater into residential neighbourhoods.
Responding to the complaints, Mr Nkurlu said his office was preparing to convene a meeting with factory owners to discuss the problem and agree on measures to stop pollution affecting surrounding communities.
The concerns highlight the need for stronger oversight of industrial activities as Kibaha continues to expand, with residents seeking to balance economic activity with a safe living environment.
On calls for a police station and a public market in Misugusugu, the district commissioner urged residents to identify suitable plots to facilitate the proposed developments.
He pledged to contribute personally towards the construction of a police station once residents agreed to begin the initiative, saying communities also had a role to play in driving local development.
Special Seats Councillor Sarah Uledi thanked the district commissioner for visiting the ward and listening to residents' concerns.
She said his visit had helped address questions that had remained unresolved for a long time, particularly those concerning water and electricity services.
The meeting was attended by Kibaha District Administrative Secretary Moses Magongwa, ward and street executives, local government chairpersons and technical officials from Kibaha Municipal Council.