Govt seeks Sh1.2tr WB loan to supply schools with clean water

Dar es Salaam. The government is seeking $550 million (about Sh1.28 trillion) loan from the World Bank (WB) to supply schools with clean and safe water by 2019/20 financial year.

The revelation was made at the Parliament on Thursday, June 20, 2018 by the Deputy Minister for State in the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mr Joseph Kakunda, when responding to a question by the Singida Urban Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Mussa Sima.

In his question, Mr Sima sought to know when the government was expected to provide clean water to schools in the country.

Mr Kakunda responded that the government expected to secure the WB funds in the 2018/19 fiscal year and that schools will be connected with water infrastructures by the 2019/20 financial year.

“However, there is a small amount of funds allocated by the ministry of Water and Irrigation and the PO-RALG in the 2018/19 financial year, which will be used for starting the job in the forthcoming financial year,” he said.

Responding to a supplementary answer, the minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Joyce Ndalichako, said Sh16 million has been set aside by her ministry for development of water infrastructures.