The politics of water -- and women -- in Tanzania

Women in Tanzania have made the availability of clean, affordable water a top political issue. Photo by Rachel Ordu Dan-Harry

By Rachel Ordu Dan-Harry

You don’t need to look very far to realize that there is inadequate access to water and sanitation services in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. As our vehicle squeezed through the hectic traffic in the city, I saw several water vendors pushing carts loaded with containers of water around the streets that adjoin the city’s main road. Water must be a lucrative business for these mostly-male vendors, I mused as we headed to the guest house.

Around the country politicians are busy campaigning as the October 31 general elections approach and for many of the women who must carry water every day from long distances to meet their household needs or buy it from the exclusive club of vendors at high prices, it's the main issue. They are resolved to vote for candidates who will bring safe water to their homes at a price they can afford.

Gertrude Mwanakaduduis said the increase in the city’s population has led to insufficient water. “There are too few sources of water and they are far away from where we live,” she said. “Even when we get there we have to wait for the water to come, and sometimes it does not come until late in the night . . . In my community there are private wells, but they sell the water, and many of us cannot afford to buy so we seek out other sources that are unsafe.”

Another woman, Harieth Kabende, said they have tried to build wells, but they are unsafe and as a result water diseases are rampant. Chemicals from industries also seep into wells.

The problem is not that the country lacks sufficient water resources. Although many parts of the country suffer from inadequate rainfall, the country is blessed with Lake Taganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa. But the abundant water is not getting to the people.

In May 2009, the government of Tanzania passed a law that promises access to efficient, effective, and sustainable water supplies and sanitation services. The government wants local governments to pay for, operate, and maintain, their water supply systems. Tanzania has also ratified international human-rights treaties that require governments to ensure that their populations enjoy access to safe and sufficient water.

Many residents of communities around Dar es Salaam have been lobbying their local governments and the water provider Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (DAWASCO) to solve their water problems. But when the Kilwani Community Group asked DAWASCO for help they were told that the water problem is not unique to Kilwani, involving other communities as well. DAWASCO blamed old infrastructure, increased population, and lack of resources for the lack of progress in solving water problems.

We met UUSC’s partner, the Tanzania Gender and Networking Programme (TGNP), a nonprofit organization that campaigns for gender equity in Tanzania. Usu Mallya, TGNP’s executive director, is not convinced that things are changing on the ground to improve access to water.

“Manzese is in the city of Dar es Salaam,” she said, “but there is serious access to water problem in that community. It is like a rural community even though it’s in the city. In 2006 the World Bank president visited the area and there was a lot of publicity. He promised change, but the problem has persisted.”

TGNP’s primary concern is that the government is not making water a top priority in the national budget and that water programs are being funded mainly by foreign aid. According to the group, funding for water projects is just about 3.4 percent of the total budget for 2010.

One of the goals of the Tanzania Water Network, established by TGNP in 2009, is to lobby the government for more funding for water projects. They have resolved to vote only for candidates who convince them that they will work to improve access to water supplies.

“We need a strong leadership of women in these places. We know it’s difficult, but if women are leaders, they will help ensure money is spent rightly,” said Asseny Muro, a member of the network.

For more information about UUSC’s human right to water program, go to http://www.uusc.org/content/international_human_right_water.

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