“We are Close to Getting Clean Water in Kilama Village” Kilama Village Chairperson
In April 2021 a journalist reporting on the human rights to safe and clean water in rural areas Mr. Mohammed Hammie visited Kilama village in Ifakara, Tanzania, to find out if the government had fulfilled its election promise of supplying water to the community.
During an interview, a water engineer and Ifakara Water Authority Manager, Mr. Ahmad Mpambaike, said that the water project at Kilama village involves the construction of a tank with a capacity of 90,000 liters as well as a water treatment filter that will cost about 90 million Tanzanian shillings.
“The construction is expected to be completed within five months and I urge the residents to take care of water sources for their own benefit and that of future generations,” said Mr. Mpambaike.
Five months after the promise, Kilama village chairman Onesmo Kuambiana Swenya said “We are close to getting clean water in Kilama village” when surveying the area where the government has started building. He added that they expect the project to be completed within two months.
“On behalf of the people of Kilama village, I am very grateful to our Tanzanian government for bringing us water, because this project will be a liberation for the people and for the first time they will have access to clean and safe water in their lives”
In April the chairman said that the implementation of the water project has brought hope to the people as they see how their leaders are fulfilling the promises they made during the election period.
“As the village chairperson, I am very happy. My happiness is due to the implementation of this water project and the construction of a tank that will benefit about 3976 Kilama residents and about 946 households.”
The follow-ups continue to ensure that these citizens have access to clean and safe water.
‘Voting is my right and so is water’ was the campaign message that aimed to inform and empower citizens to use their votes in the election since it can solve their water crisis. The campaign is supported by End Water Poverty. A global civil society coalition, campaigning to end the water and sanitation crisis, through the #ClaimYourWaterRights campaign. This is a global mobilization campaign that aims to spur people to claim their human rights to safe water and sanitation.
