The Minister for Water, Prof Jumanne Maghembe.
Written by NASHON KENNEDY from Mwanza
TANZANIA and Kenya have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the implementation of a project with the view of ending water blues to the towns of Sirari in Tanzania and Isebania in the United Republic of Kenya.
The signing ceremony was held here over the weekend between the Minister for Water, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, and the Cabinet Secretary, Minister of Environment, Water and Natural Resources from Kenya, Prof Judi Wakungu, during a two-day meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin and witnessed by delegations from EAC member states.
The memorandum of understanding is part of implementation of Lake Victoria Water Supply and Sanitation Phase II Programme (LVWTSAN), which is an initiative, aimed at improving sustainable water supply and sanitation infrastructure in the secondary towns in Lake Victoria Basin.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Prof Maghembe thanked the sectoral meeting on their initiatives that made the signing of the MoU a success, with the aim of ending water blues in the towns of Sirari and Isebania.
According to him, LVWTSAN programme has been implemented in the two countries of Kenya and Tanzania, in towns of Geita, Nansio, and Sengerema and Keroka, Kericho and Isebania in Kenya for 110m/- US dollars. The extension project from Isebania to Sirari is expected to cost 110m/-.
Prof Maghembe added that during the programme appraisal, Sirari town in Tanzania was identified as a sister to Isebania town in Kenya and there was an agreement between the two countries to extend water supply system from Isebania to Sirari in order to mitigate the anticipated challenge of population influx to Isebania.
“Through that understanding, the Lake Victoria South Water Services Board (LVSWSB) on the Kenyan side and Musoma Urban Water and Sanitation Authority (MUWASA) on the Tanzanian side shall collaborate and jointly execute the interventions in Sirari and Isebania in the respective partner states and LVSWSB will take lead in the project implementation,” he clarified.
Prof Wakungu said the project will make the people of the two towns have access water and thereby strengthening the relations between the two countries as far as East African integrations are concerned. She urged the EAC member states to take stern measures in conserving the environment as the Lake Victoria Basin continues to face environment threats and challenges.
“This must be tackled in order to realize the desired socio-economic benefits and regional integration in environment management,” she said adding that the success in addressing the environmental and natural resources issues requires unwavering cooperation among all key stakeholders and harness the pivotal role of the basin leadership.
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