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Zanzibaris now to pay for water services
2006-03-16 09:16:07
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
A Bill intended to compel water consumers pay for the service after 42 years since the Revolution is due to be discussed in the Zanzibar House of Representatives (ZHR) next week.
The Zanzibar Minister for Water, Works, Natural Resources and Lands, Mansour Yusuf Himid, has confirmed that the Bill will tabled in ZHR’s ordinary meeting on March 21.
The Minister said if passed the resulting law would compel Zanzibaris to pay for water services.
Himid said the aim of the Bill is to make the people of Zanzibar to contribute in production and distribution of water services in the Isles following increased expenditure in running water services.
’’The money obtained through payments of water services will assist in improving water services and its infrastructure as well as carter for other small expenses,’’ said the minister.
He said, though the law is expected to be passed this year, water payment will begin in two years to come, after water distribution services is enhanced to enable all the people access clean and safe water.
According to the proposed law, water department will be changed into Zanzibar Water Authority, an independent body with its own board of directors.
The minister said people will be informed of the water payment rates after evaluating the utilization of water in each house before they start paying for the service.
He further said that the law also provides severe penalties for those caught destroying water sources and catchments.
’’Anybody found polluting water sources will be fined 2m/- or two years imprisonment of serve both penalties,’’ he said.
Previously, the government rejected the suggestion that the people to contribute for water services on grounds that there was serious water scarcity in the Isles.
Pemba and Zanzibar use a total of 80,000 litres of water per day. But current production of water has dropped tremendously due to poor water infrastructures that still exist since Zanzibar’s revolution in 1964.
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