Bickering delays completion of irrigation scheme

DEUS NGOWI in Mwanga

A GRAND irrigation project worth 420m/- at Kirya in Mwanga District that was to be completed early November, last year, has been stopped because of misunderstandings between stakeholders.

This scheme was initiated mainly to irrigate more than 900 hectares, but completion has bedeviled by technical problems involving the Irrigation Department – Northern Zone, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), Mwanga District Council, the contractor – Building Contractors Ltd, and the Pangani Valley Authority.

Mwanga District Commissioner Shaibu Ndemanga expressed his concern about the situation, saying the project, owned by the District Council, should have been operational to ensure food security in the area as well as surplus for export.

As a solution, Ndemanga issued a seven-day ultimatum for the five stakeholders to meet and discuss the matter so that the contractor could complete the project and eventually hand it over to the district.

The project, which involves construction of modern irrigation canals and diverting water from Ruvu River under the Pangani Basin Authority, would be used by farmers to grow various crops.

River Ruvu flows to Nyumba ya Mungu Dam and is used by Tanesco for power production. The matter, as it stands, is that the irrigation department would like to see the project completed so as agricultural activities take place. Pangani Valley Authority has to be consulted as the River Ruvu water has been under its domain while Tanesco has been using the same water downstream for power generation.

Ndemanga said the project was supposed to be completed along with others at Kivulini and Kileo villages more than four months ago. Mwanga District is predominantly dry and badly needs irrigation projects for agricultural activities.

President John Magufuli has warned that the Fifth Phase Government would not tolerate leaders who beg for food in their respective districts and regions while they could produce for themselves as well as surplus.

Acting District Agricultural Officer, Mr Hassan Msuya, said the project has been completed by 95 per cent through funds from the Mwanga District Council and the Central Government. He said currently what remain is diverting water from Ruvu River to the main canal and thereafter to small channels that are under growers in the district.

Commenting on the matter, a director of the Dar es Salaambased Building Contractors Ltd, Oscar Chikira, noted that the company has incurred a huge loss due to the fact that machinery used for construction of the project have remained idle for more than four months.

Pangani Valley Authority Water Officer Mtoi Kanyawanah claimed that the Irrigation Department – Northern Zone, Mwanga District Council and the contractor had contravened the law in executing the project, adding that his office wasn’t involved in the whole process