Water woes unite feuding MPs

Dodoma. Members of Parliament from across the political divide have threatened to throw out budget proposals for the Water ministry if the government refuses to increase funds for water projects.

Speaking when debating the ministry’s budget for the 2019/20 financial year amounting to Sh634.2 billion, the lawmakers urged the government to double the ‘water levy’ charged on fuel from the current Sh50 per litre – and, this way, boost the Water Fund specifically created to finance water development projects.

Tabling the budget for debate in the National Assembly on Thursday, the minister for Water, Prof Makame Mbarawa, said Sh610.5 billion in the financial year 2019/20 would be spent on water projects.

Kaliua MP Magdalena Sakaya (CUF) vowed not to approve the budget proposals on Monday should the government ignore the call to increase the extant water levy on fuel.

“We are facing an acute shortage of water in the country. Pupils in Kaliua can hardly access drinking water; yet the government is taking the matter lightly. This is unacceptable,” Ms Sakaya protested inside the august House.

Bariadi lawmaker Andrew Chenge (CCM) called on fellow MPs to stand by their resolution on doubling the water levy on fuel. This is unless and until the government comes up with a more sustainable option to boost the Water Fund.

This fund, Mr Chenge said, is of paramount importance in financing water development projects, thus eventually resolving the dire shortage of clean and safe water across the country.

According to the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Water, Mr Mahmoud Mgimwa, the Water Fund had disbursed Sh106.4 billion – roughly 67 per cent of its approved fund – for water development projects up until April this year. If nothing else, Mr Mgimwa said, this signifies that the Water Fund is a more reliable local source of financing for water projects.

“For three consecutive years, the committee has been proposing an increase in the levy with a view to boosting the Water Fund. This is a parliamentary resolution. We need to respect our resolutions,” Mr Chenge categorically stated – adding somewhat rhetorically that, “if we fail to respect our decisions, who will do so…?”

The former attorney general also proposed that taxes on water well drilling equipment be removed to attract investors into injecting their money into the sector. This is with a view to effectively addressing the acute water shortage once and for all.

“We need to emulate neighbouring countries in the East African bloc who have already removed taxes on water well drilling machines,” Mr Chenge recommended.

Igalula Member of Parliament Mussa Ntimizi (CCM) said next Monday would be a tough day for the government should it turn down the proposal to double the Sh50 water levy on a litre of fuel.

“We are ready to give the (Water) minister more time to address other ministerial challenges, but not the water shortage challenge. We firmly stand by our resolution in the best interests of Tanzanians who are facing water shortage,” Mr Ntimizi vowed.

This was echoed by the Mtama MP Nape Nnauye (CCM). Noting that, for three consecutive years, the government has been turning down the proposal to boost the Water Fund, Mr Nnauye said “this is contempt of Parliament. If the government cannot work on our recommendations, what are we here for?”

Recalling that the government did approve a Sh100 levy on a litre of fuel sold to consumers with which to finance rural electrification, Mr Nnauye expressed consternation that the very same government today finds it extremely difficult to do the same for water development projects.

“Does this mean that electricity is more important than water, which touches the lives of people from all walks of life?” he asked.

On a note of dissent, however, the Geita MP (CCM), Joseph Musukuma, disapproved pleas to double the levy on fuel to boost the Water Fund. “The effect of doubling the water levy on fuel could trickle down to poor Tanzanians; this is unacceptable,” Mr Musukuma thundered in the debating chamber.