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Tanzanians mark water (less) week
2006-03-15 13:28:16
By Joyce Mkinga
Maji week commemorations will begin tomorrow, but with little to shout about for Tanzanians who face an acute shortage that has seriously affected agricultural production.
The immediate consequence of water shortage is the prevailing famine that threatens the survival of over 3.7 million people in the country.
The government uses Maji (Water) Week commemorations events to disseminate water policies and review achievements.
Minister for Water Stephen Wassira told reporters at the weekend that the objective of the week is bring about political and societal awareness of water management and conservation.
The minister said society should contribute towards conservation of water sources.
However, while the country commemorates the week, Tanzania is under threat of food shortages and power rationing due to drought.
According to the government report on food situation in the country, over 3.7 million people face food shortage as a result of drought that has hit the country since October last year.
The report shows that over 10 regions, among them Shinyanga, Mwanza, Kilimanjaro and Singida face acute food shortages.
The others are Tanga, Dodoma, Mara, Tabora, Arusha and Morogoro.
The prolonged drought has also affected power supply, forcing the government to embark on nationwide power rationing after the water level at Mtera Dam, the main country power generating plant, diminished.
Maji Week starts tomorrow and will climax on World Water Day on March 22.
This year’s theme for World Water Day is Water and Culture under the United Nations Education Development, Science and Culture (Unesco).
The theme is derived from the fact that, there are many ways people use water, as there are diverse cultures in the world.
’Cultural traditions, indigenous practices and societal values determine how people perceive and manage water in the world’s different regions,’ he said.
Apart from Maji Week and World Water Day, there will be a fourth World Water Forum that is to be held in Mexico with the theme Local Actions for a Global Challenge.
The World Water Day became an international event in 1992, when the UN General Assembly ratified it and asked member states to incorporate it on their national calendars.
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