Tanzania: Fresh Ruaha Water Conservation Programme Launched

Dar es Salaam — An initiative to improve water management in the Great Ruaha River has been launched in Iringa Region.

The conservation initiative is part of a major campaign to bring together the private sector and government stakeholders in addressing the hurdles related to water shortage.

Themed "The Great Ruaha Restoration Campaign (GRRC)", the plan aims at coming up with collective solutions to water challenges in the basin.

During the launch of the initiative, stakeholders reviewed the supply and demand of water in the catchment areas. There is growing curiosity among stakeholders over the impact of the catchments in the national economy.

The catchment is of high significance to the national economy, the stakeholders believe. The region where the basin is located, contains 50 per cent of the country's installed hydropower.

In addition it hosts the largest National Park in the country with the largest number of Elephants (up to 20,000), highest number of bird species (about 4,000 species).

The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Mr Emmanuel Kalobelo, revealed grand plans to develop credible interventions for the restoration of the flow of the Great Ruaha.

He highlighted the need for collective discussions among the business community and the government in the efforts to tackle water stress for the communities living around the basin.

"Business can play a major role by being a key voice in the debate alongside government, civil society and academia."