TGNP WATER CAMPAIGN INFORMATION

On December 7th, 2005 the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) and its allies launched a campaign to rebuff the privatization of water sector to foreign investors.

The programme aims to raise awareness of the people and especially women about the consequences of privatizing water generation and distribution to foreign investors.

In her opening speech at the launch, TGNP Executive Director Mary Rusimbi stressed the importance of water on the daily life of humans. She compared its importance to that of oxygen.

She said that privatizing the water sector would make room for foreign investors to commercialize it for their own benefit and leave the poor majority suffering.

“Everyone has the right to safe and clean water…we want to create awareness for people to raise their voices and tell the government not to invite private companies to run the water sector. Instead, we demand that the government take the lead and make sure every individual in the society has access to it,” she said.

The guest of honor at the occasion was Generali Ulimwengu, a veteran journalist and Chairman of the Habari Cooperation. His speech reiterated the need for all people in the society to join hands and press the government for access to clean and safe water. Water rights, he stated, are as important as health, education, and security services.

He said that water policies affect women and girl-children the most because they spend most of their time looking for water. They must walk long distances to get it.

Hundreds of Dar-es-Salaam city residents and others from the nearby districts of Kibaha, Kisarawe and Bagamoyo attended the occasion. Journalists from different media houses also attended to cover the event.

Some residents gave their testimonials on how they suffer looking for water for use in their day-to-day lives. Selected testimonials follow:

Hamisa, a widow and HIV/AIDS positive resident of Kinondoni district:
“Lack of enough water in my home accelerated the death of my beloved husband who was HIV/Aids positive. We are supposed to walk a great distance to get water in our area … sometimes I get sick because I am HIV positive … and so sometimes I couldn’t manage to get water to wash my husband and his clothes --this made him more vulnerable to disease.”

A resident of Mbwana village Kisarawe district in Pwani region, Sofia Ali:
“Children in our village fail to attend their studies because they have to walk a long distance to look for water. They get water in the rivers and ponds, from which other animals like monkeys are drinking."

Anonymous participant:
“People are not supposed to pay for water services; the government should provide it free to everyone without regard for their social class. During the time of the Arusha Declaration, water was given first priority. The government made sure that all people got clean and safe water for free --especially in the rural areas. The should use tax monies to create a good water infrastructure to enable people to get sufficient water.

Juma Msafiri a resident of Kibaha, Pwani region:
“I’d rather give up schools than water. Water should come first because it is necessary for basic survival. Education can follow.”

An expert from the Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO), Ngunga Tapani, said that more than 27 percent of 9.8 billion Tanzanians and children of less than five years die of disease related to water problems (diarrhea, dysentery, etcetera).

In response to these enormous problems, gender activists raised the following concerns and demands with regard to the water sector:

BACK to "about the campaign"