SOUTHERN Province Permanent Secretary Namani Monze has advised the Southern Water and Sanitation Company (SWASCo) and local authorities to enhance collaborative efforts in improving water reticulation systems in urban areas across the province.

Dr. Monze explained that through government programmes such as the cash for work programme and Constituency Development Fund (CDF), utility companies can utilise such avenues to expedite works to restore water to districts with adverse water shortages.

He was speaking in Pemba when he visited Likwele Dam to appreciate the current status of the water structure that has since dried up due to the drought resulting in a reduction of water supply to Pemba town.

Dr. Monze also revealed that government is in putting in place measures to ensure water is restored in the district which includes the construction of two new dams and rehabilitation of two new dams.

He revealed that government will alsoestablish one commercial dam in Pemba district.

“We want to dignify the lives of the people of Pemba. Due to the drought,critical dam structures such as likwele dam which SWASCO depends on to obtain and distribute water to urban areas in Pemba have dried up. As a government, we are alive to this issue and through various interventions such as rehabilitation and construction of dams and boreholes, we remain optimistic that such challenges will be reduced,” he added.  

And Pemba Town Council Secretary Samuel Kasenge has confirmed that the local authority has identified twenty-one Water schemes which have been earmarked for constructions and maintenance across Pemba district through the CDF.

“Currently, three boreholes have been sunk using CDF in Pemba town and water schemes of two kilometres will be developed around these boreholes within Pemba town, whilst the rest will be distributed across the district,” Mr. Kasenge explained.