National water grid anchors Samia’s water drive

TANZANIA: A YEAR after President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for her second term on November 3, 2025, investment in water infrastructure has featured prominently in her administration’s efforts to improve public services and livelihoods.

During the period under review, the government completed 16 water projects within the first 100 days, advanced major dam construction, pursued the National Water Grid and continued implementing water supply schemes across the country.

The initiatives combine immediate service delivery with long-term investments aimed at addressing shortages, supporting production and strengthening water security, in line with Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050.

In her inaugural address to Parliament on November 14, 2025, President Samia pledged to achieve 100 per cent access to clean, safe and reliable water, particularly in underserved areas.

She also committed the government to completing the National Water Grid within five years, drawing water from major sources, including Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa.

“Our ambition is to achieve 100 per cent access to clean, safe and reliable water. We will therefore increase our efforts to reach the few remaining areas where access to water is still a challenge,” she said.

One early achievement was the completion of 16 water projects worth 16.28bn/- within the first 100 days, extending services to more than 118,400 people, according to a performance report presented by Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso in Dodoma in January 2026.

Mr Aweso said another 71 projects were under implementation and expected to benefit approximately 2.89 million people upon completion.

The government has also prioritised villages without reliable water services. An assessment showed that of Tanzania’s approximately 12,333 villages, 10,758 had access to water services, leaving 1,575 requiring intervention.

Mr Aweso said the government intended to reach all remaining villages within the five-year term, beginning with 400 villages for which funding had already been secured. A major component of this ambition is the National Water Grid, designed to transfer water from resource-rich areas to regions facing shortages.

Mr Aweso said Lake Victoria water had already reached Tabora and connected its districts, while plans were advancing to extend supply through Singida to Dodoma.

By January 2026, the design for the proposed Lake Victoria–Dodoma project had been completed, with the ministry preparing to secure a contractor. The government was also pursuing a project worth more than 400bn/- to extend Lake Victoria water to all districts in Simiyu Region.

The wider grid’s success will depend on financing, construction and effective operation of the planned connections. Another important investment is the Farkwa Dam project in Chemba District, intended to strengthen water security in Dodoma and surrounding areas. In July 2026, the government signed a construction contract worth 163.43bn/-.

The dam is designed to store more than 400 billion litres of water, with a treatment plant expected to produce 128,000 cubic metres daily. The project is also expected to create opportunities such as fish farming. A resettlement area at Sankwaleto has been prepared for affected residents, with facilities including a school, dispensary and teachers’ houses.

The contract signing marked a major implementation milestone, although construction was still under way during the review period. Meanwhile, construction of Kidunda Dam, another strategic project intended to improve water security for areas dependent on the Ruvu River, had progressed beyond 50 per cent by October 2026.

Valued at approximately 366bn/-, the project is designed to store about 190 billion litres of water and includes a 20-megawatt hydropower component and a 72-kilometre access road. The dam is expected to strengthen raw-water availability for Dar es Salaam and surrounding areas, particularly during dry periods when declining river levels affect supply.

Its full benefits will depend on timely completion and commissioning. In the Southern Highlands, the government continued implementing the 119bn/- Kiwira Water Project, targeting shortages in Mbeya City, Mbalizi and neighbouring communities.

The project is expected to increase daily water production from 74 million litres to 193 million litres, benefiting more than 1.5 million people. During an inspection on October 16, 2026, Deputy Minister for Water Andrew Kundo urged faster implementation to meet the July 2027 completion target.

The government expects water access in the covered areas to rise from 90 per cent to 100 per cent after completion. The administration also continued implementing the 28 Towns Water Supply Project, with progress varying across beneficiary locations.

By October 2026, the 11bn/- Chemba project in Dodoma was nearing completion, with the potential to increase water access from 42 per cent to 95 per cent. In Ifakara, Morogoro, the 48bn/- project had reached 71 per cent completion and is designed to produce 20 million litres daily, benefiting more than 80,000 people.

The 34.67bn/- Kasulu project in Kigoma had reached 75 per cent, while Kayanga in Kagera had recorded 79 per cent progress. In Tanga, successful tests had been conducted to transfer water from the intake to the treatment plant, with supply expected by the end of November 2026.

Meanwhile, the Kilwa Masoko project in Lindi had been completed, with residents already receiving water. These developments demonstrate progress across several regions, although most projects were still at different stages of construction, testing and preparation for service delivery.

To support further expansion, the Ministry of Water has also explored alternative financing mechanisms. Mr Aweso said the ministry was developing initiatives, including a Green Bond introduced through Tanga Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (Tanga-Uwasa), and preparing a Water Infrastructure Bond to mobilise additional resources.

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“Apart from the funds we receive from the government, we are developing other sources of financing to speed up implementation and ensure people get services,” he said.

However, the contribution of these financing instruments will depend on their ability to attract sufficient resources. Water conservation has also emerged as an important consideration alongside infrastructure expansion. Mr Aweso warned that changing weather patterns were affecting water sources, with some rivers drying up despite the country’s considerable water resources.

“Reliable water supply means food security and also reliable electricity. Therefore, conservation and protection of water sources must be inclusive, because everyone has a role to play,” he was quoted as saying.

His remarks highlight the importance of protecting rivers, lakes and catchment areas to ensure that dams, pipelines and treatment plants deliver sustainable benefits. The government’s longerterm strategy is also reflected in the proposed National Development Plan for 2027/28.

Presenting the plan in Parliament, Minister of State in the President’s Office – Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, said the National Water Grid would continue drawing on major sources, including Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa and the Rufiji River.

He said water resources would support not only domestic consumption but also agricultural production, livestock keeping and fisheries. One year into President Samia’s second term, the government has recorded progress through completed village water projects, advances in major dams, expansion of regional supply networks and efforts to mobilise additional financing.

However, the commitment to reach the remaining 1,575 villages remains a major test, alongside the timely completion of large infrastructure projects and protection of water sources.

As Tanzania pursues Development Vision 2050, the ultimate measure of success will be whether these investments translate into dependable water supplies for households, schools, health facilities, farmers and businesses.

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