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| Participants doing group discussion during the second Mbarali Sub-catchment multi-stakeholders workshop held at Makambako in Njombe region. (Photo: Friday Simbaya) |
WANGING’OMBE District Commissioner (DC), Asumpta Mshama said Wanging’ombe, Mbarali and Makete districts should have one voice in terms of water resources management, hence restoring the perennial flows of Great Ruaha River (GRR).
Mshama made the announcement in her closing remarks on Tuesday during the Second Mbarali Sub-catchment Multi-Stakeholders Workshop held at Makambako in Njombe region.
She said that in order to promote inclusive partnership and accountability in natural resources management, no partners or district should left behind in implementing the Sustainable Water Access Use and Management (SWAUM) in the Great Ruaha River Catchment (GRRC).
“May I give my sincere thanks to the Rufiji Basin Water Board (RBWB) and WWF Tanzania for facilitating this workshop of Working and Learning together, how we fulfill project activities over the past two years, achievements, challenges and opportunities for developing of the implementing of the Sustainable Water Access Use and Management (SWAUM) in Mbarali Sub-catchment,” DC said.
WWF Tanzania through Ruaha Water Programme (RWP) and the Office of the Rufiji Basin Water for the past two years has implemented the project in small river basin area of Mbarali.
The aim of the project being to involve stakeholders in the acquisition, exploitation and management of shared water resources of small river basin of Mbarali, and restoring the flow of water in the Great Ruaha River.
Through this project stakeholders participated visually operations management of water resources and implement them under the supervision of the Office of the Rufiji basin water and WWF.
“I would like to commend the Office of the Rufiji Basin Water and WWF Tanzania for the work they do in caring for the environment and water resources, using the concept of stakeholder participation. Should I use this opportunity to invite other partners to support these efforts to restore the life of the Great Ruaha River which is the lifeline of citizens and the economy of the nation at large,” DC Mshama elaborated.
On his part, Ruaha Water Program Coordinator, Mturi James said through this project (SWAUM), stakeholders were able to generate and implement the following projects: Agricultural conservation and reforestation inUdumuka and Lugodalutali villages, establishing of tree seedling garden / nursery at Ifunda, Isalavanu, Saadani and Igomaa villages, protecting of water-sources at Kibada, Mapogoro, Nyamakuyu, in Igima Ward, and the implementation of participatory village land use plans at Nyakadete, Miyombweni, Mbweleli and Makatapola villages.
James mentioned other activities implemented by stakeholders’ like construction of water trough for livestock at Mwakaganga, drilling of water-wells at Nyakadeteand Nyamakuyu villages, measuring of water levels in Mbarali and Ndembera rivers, Construction of the weather station (Mafinga) and river water measuring station (Warumba),to facilitate and provide intensive agricultural training- Pawaga and Measuring the quality and safety of water in Ihanzutwa, Nyamakuyu, Nyakadete and Mihango villages and so on.
He said that the objective of meeting was to bring together stakeholders to learn from shared experience to water and land governance in Mbarali River Sub-catchment and to the Great Ruaha River.
According to Principle Forest Assistance (PFA) Makete District, Pius Kessy the WWF gave education to a team of facilitators in the district to cooperate with the council and stakeholders have sought to do the following: create a water users association for Matamba Ward (JUWAMA) based on groups such as women, pastoralists, farmers and domestic water users , identifying available water resources that contribute its waters in the Great Ruaha River and 318 water sources have been identified in the Matamba and Kinyika wards.
Kessy said that citizens were persuaded to establish tree nurseries which were environmentally friendly to water, where they have established nurseries in three villages Nhungu, Mahanji and Mpangala and a total of 4,118 seedlings were planted.
He said that other activities implemented include establishing of beekeeping groups in Nhungu (190 beehives), Ngoje (30 beehives) and Mpangala (30 beehives) villages.
He said the new initiative of SWAUM although it was new to them, meant to manage the river and its catchment managed to address water governance failures in the GRRC.
The biggest challenge for Makete was of geographical nature, which becomes difficult to enforce laws and regulations of the distance of 60 meters from the riverbank.
The conflict of laws from various sectors working in areas, for instance, land people were demarcating plots up the valley, environmentalists withheld build on valley at same time agriculturists promote irrigation agriculture and conservationists say it is not allowed any activities in the areas of water sources and rivers within 60 meters.
However, during the meeting of the multi-stakeholders at Makambako- participants were determined that there are stakeholders who have not participated in the workshop which includes police, anti-corruption unit, the courts, lawyers and religious leaders should be involved next time.
Stakeholders were also determined to be necessary to mark and put some beacons showing 60 meters from the banks of rivers and water sources with the poster prohibiting any unenvironmental friendly activities near the river banks and water sources.
They also concluded that environmental education should be continue to farmers, livestock keepers and all stakeholders who use water resources and rivers, hence sustainable environmental conservation.
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