Villagers at Shirimatunda, Mnadani Ward in Hai District yesterday rejected a water project.
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They did so by stopping Moshi Urban Water and Sewerage Authority (Muwsa) technicians from connecting water from springs in their village. They claimed Muwsa did not involve them in planning the project and connecting pipes to Mkashilingi springs in Shiri-Njro Village, ordering the technicians to leave them alone.
Moshi. Villagers at Shirimatunda, Mnadani Ward in Hai District yesterday rejected a water project.
They did so by stopping Moshi Urban Water and Sewerage Authority (Muwsa) technicians from connecting water from springs in their village. They claimed Muwsa did not involve them in planning the project and connecting pipes to Mkashilingi springs in Shiri-Njro Village, ordering the technicians to leave them alone.
At least 500 villagers turned up for a meeting last weekend to discuss the crisis, which almost turned into a confrontation as the technicians were being ordered out of the area.
The chairperson of the village water affairs, Mr Kornel Mushi, said they would not allow Muwsa to connect pipes to the springs which, according to him, were the only dependable sources of water for domestic use and irrigation. He said the village government had formed a team of 30 representatives to pursue the matter with Muwsa and the Court to ensure the project did not take off.
However, the conflict later this week took a new twist, when Mr Clemence Nkya,the chairman of Shiri Njoro Village, where the springs are located, queried Shirimatunda villagers, saying they had no right to stop the project.
“Muwsa has a permit from the Pangani Basin Water Authority to lay pipes and connect them to the springs,” he said.
When contacted for comment, Muwsa director general Joyce Msiro said the matter had been agreed upon during meetings local government officials and village leaders and officials from the Pangani River Basin Authority.
