Dar es Salaam. Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL) today marked a decade-defining milestone with the completion of its 30th community water project in Tanzania. The project, commissioned in Baray Ward, Karatu District, Arusha Region, was officially inaugurated by the Deputy Minister for Water, Hon. Eng. Kundo Mathew.
The Baray water project is among the largest single water investments in SBL’s history, delivering clean and safe water to more than 15,000 residents. With an installed capacity of over 110,632 cubic metres annually, the project cost Sh 344 million, fully funded by SBL, and was delivered in partnership with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) and the Africa Community Advancement Initiative (Africai).
Baray is one of three projects completed by SBL this year, alongside initiatives in Kambi ya Simba Ward (Karatu) and Ihushi Ward (Mwanza). Together, these projects represent a Sh 655 million investment in SBL’s fiscal year 2026, benefiting 23,189 people and delivering 169,279 cubic metres of clean water capacity annually. To date, SBL has invested approximately Sh 2.5 billion in rural water infrastructure across Tanzania, benefiting over 2.3 million people.
SBL’s Water for Life programme is closely aligned with Tanzania’s National Water Policy (NAWAPO), which emphasizes community participation in the planning, construction, operation, and management of water supply schemes. Each SBL project embeds community ownership from the outset, working closely with RUWASA, district authorities, and community-based water organizations to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Baray project features modern submersible pumps, pump houses, storage tanks, an expanded pipeline distribution network, 20 new water points, and the rehabilitation of 15 existing ones—critical infrastructure that now belongs to and is managed by the community it serves.
Beyond infrastructure, SBL and Africai have implemented a Women in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) training programme. This initiative has equipped 30 women from Baray and Kambi ya Simba with technical skills in water system maintenance and source protection, as well as entrepreneurship training in soap-making, financial literacy, marketing, leadership, and gender-based violence awareness. The programme reflects SBL’s core belief that while clean water is foundational to community development, economic inclusion is essential for sustainability.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Deputy Minister for Water, Hon. Eng. Kundo Mathew, commended SBL’s contribution and emphasized the importance of continued private sector collaboration.
“The Government continues to ensure that citizens have access to clean and safe water, but these efforts require collaboration from various stakeholders. We highly appreciate the contribution of the private sector—such as Serengeti Breweries Limited—in helping achieve these national goals,” he said.
SBL Managing Director, Dr. Obinna Anyalebechi, noted that the milestone reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Tanzania.
“Thirty water projects is not just a number—it represents thirty communities where young girls no longer walk long distances for water and can attend school, where mothers have time to build businesses, and where clinics can safely treat patients. The Baray project is one of the largest we have ever delivered, and it reminds us why we started—and why we will not stop. We are a Tanzanian business, and our success is measured by the country we help to build,” he said.
Africai Director, Dr. Bonus Caesar, added:
“This partnership has enabled us to deliver essential services to communities in a sustainable way. We are committed to ensuring that these projects are not only implemented, but also maintained for long-term community benefit. We thank SBL for its continued partnership.”
SBL is one of Tanzania’s largest taxpayers and a major contributor to national revenue. However, its impact extends far beyond fiscal contributions—into boreholes drilled, farmers supported, jobs created, and communities empowered.
The Baray project also aligns with Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, which aims to ensure that at least 85% of rural Tanzanians have access to clean and safe water. It is further expected to support local maize farmers in the Karatu area, including those within SBL’s supply chain.
Dr. Anyalebechi emphasized the company’s broader commitment:
“Our responsibility to Tanzania rests on three pillars: the taxes we pay, the jobs we create, and the communities we invest in. A sustainable, growing business enables all three. When any one pillar weakens, all three are at risk—and so is the progress we are building together with the government.”
“As Tanzania prepares for the next fiscal planning cycle in FY26/27, SBL remains committed to constructive engagement with the government on policies that sustain both national revenue and industry resilience. A predictable, moderate fiscal environment enables long-term investments that deliver for communities—water infrastructure, tax contributions, formal-sector jobs, and the growth Tanzania depends on,” he concluded.
Local leaders and residents of Baray expressed their appreciation for the project and pledged to safeguard it for generations to come.
