Moshi water supply authority’s job pleases minister

Prof Jumanne Maghembe

WATER authorities have been advised to emulate the efficiency of Moshi Urban Water and Sewerage Authority (MUWSA). The Minister for Water, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, offered the advice over the weekend at Moshi, while launching MUWSA's new board of directors.

Prof Maghembe said MUWSA has exceeded millennium and government targets as far as supply of clean and safe water to the Moshi Municipality.
The minister noted that government values highly the contribution by water authorities' board members as they were key to reach the millennium development goals (MDGs) set for 2015.

"I would like to congratulate the past boards because their contributions have helped Moshi Urban Water and Sewerage Authority to go above the millennium and government targets in delivering clean water services.

"Moshi municipality has no problems in relation to scarcity of clean water and the residents of this town get clean and safe water for an average of 17 hours a day," noted the minister.

The new MUWSA Managing Director, Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja, who has 40 days in office, has announced an end to water rationing, meaning that residents are getting water for 24 hours.

Prof Maghembe called on other urban water authorities also to learn from MUWSA in implementing successfully the government policy - Kilimo Kwanza."MUWSA is the only authority in the country implementing government's slogan of Kilimo Kwanza. You conserve the environment and increase productivity in agriculture through Mabogini Irrigation Project by using refined sewage.

"It is my only hope that other authorities will learn from MUWSA for this will help us get rid of famine  as farmers will gradually reduce usage of clean water in irrigation, dependency on rain and ultimately raise their incomes," said the minister amid applause from MUWSA staff.   

Prof Maghembe praised the MUWSA managing director and ordered him to further modernise the authority so that it ranks first among others. He said Engineer Luhemeja was among 29 experts who formulated "Big Results Now"  (BRN) in the water sector.

Earlier, Eng Luhemeja told the minister that they have started well with BRN, as the rift among the workers that existed was no longer there.The MD said from July 1st to December 24th), they will address four main areas, namely to reduce water loss; raise customer network; have better customer services and improve supply of water and increase the proceeds.

He said collections from customers have gone up from 302m/- in June to 349.5m/- last July. The target is to collect 1bn/- by June 2014, when they will have increased water sources and production. The target is to have 50,000 customers up from the existing 21,000.

In their message to the minister, MUWSA workers noted that failure is not their option, and said they were happy with appointment of the new MD and the Board and that staff are allowed to go for further studies in line with the ministry's policy.

The board MUWSA board members are Shally Raymond (Chairperson), Professor Faustine Bee (Vice Chairperson), Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja (Secretary to the Board), Japhary Michael, Elizabeth Minde, Boniface Mariki, Alfred Shayo, Hajira Mmande, Abdala Mkufunzi and Bernadette Kinabo.