New book on the Nile basin out

Dar es Salaam. The Minister of State in the President’s Office (Special Duties), Prof Mark Mwandosya, yesterday released his new book which tells looks at the geography, engineering, politics and cooperation among 12 member countries forming the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI).

The 443-page book written in Kiswahili is entitled Daraja Juu ya Mto Nile, (The Bridge Across the Nile), was a hit shortly after it was launched by former Prime Minister Dr Salim Ahmed Salim at a colourful function also attended by former Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye, former East African Community (EAC) secretary general Amb. Juma Mwapachu, Kenyan Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere and retired editor Ulli Mwambulukutu.

“This is the mother of all books on the Nile,” commented Meraji Msuya, former executive director of the NBI. The book has been published by Vision Publishing Limited based in Dar es Salaam.

Prof Mwandosya explained the politics of the Nile from colonial days and the role played by Tanzania’s founding President Julius Nyerere in making sure the river was equitably and reasonably shared among riparian states.

The first copy of the book, which sells at Sh40,000 each, was auctioned at over $2,000, which Prof Mwandosya said will be spent on translating the book into English or French.

Launching the book, Dr Salim appealed to all NBI member states of Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea to make sure that Nile River was not a source of conflict.

He said Egypt, whose dependence on the Nile was 98 per cent, should also realise the importance of the water body to other riparian states.