"Victoria Lake Water Project to Address Health and Education Issues"

 The completion of the Victoria Lake water project will reduce the outbreak of waterborne diseases and help curb child marriages and teenage pregnancies in Ushetu, according to Julieth Payovela, the Regional Manager of Ruwasa Shinyanga.

Residents of Ushetu, a district in the Kahama Municipality, will soon see significant improvements in their daily lives, thanks to a multi-billion shilling water project sourced from Lake Victoria. More than 180,000 people currently relying on unsafe well and pond water are set to benefit from a new, reliable water supply. The government has allocated over 44 billion Tanzanian shillings to fund this life-changing initiative.

The project aims to significantly reduce childhood deaths related to drowning in ponds, where children often fetch water for household use.

Implemented in phases, the first stage of the project, already completed in Kahama, will cover 11 out of the 20 wards and 54 out of the 112 villages in Ushetu. The second phase is expected to provide water access to the remaining areas of the district.

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In an interview on February 28, 2025, several women from Ushetu spoke out about the dire water shortage, explaining that they often use water from wells and ponds, putting their families at risk. Many children have drowned while fetching water, and young girls are also vulnerable to early pregnancies.

"Due to the lack of clean water, children and even our daughters have to bathe and wash clothes in the wells and sometimes in dangerous ponds. There are risks, including drowning and pregnancies among young girls," explained Agnes Malunde, a resident of Mbika village.

Another villager, Chanda Msogoti, shared the difficulties faced by women, explaining that they often wake up at 3 a.m. to search for water, leaving their husbands behind in bed. When they return late, it often causes marital conflicts as their husbands become suspicious of where they have been.

"Husbands have bad feelings, thinking we're going somewhere else, but we're just fetching water. This project will help us a lot," said Msogoti.

Emanuel Cherehan, the Member of Parliament for Ushetu, expressed his gratitude to the government for initiating this water project, noting that it will be a lasting solution to the water shortage that has plagued the district for over two decades.

Gagi Lala, the Chairman of Ushetu District Council, urged for the acceleration of the project’s expansion to ensure that all 112 villages have access to clean and safe water from Lake Victoria.

Julieth Payovela, Regional Manager of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (Ruwasa) for Shinyanga, stated during a ceremony on February 23, 2025, that the project would help curb waterborne diseases, teenage pregnancies, and school absenteeism among girls. She emphasized that the project will benefit over 189,000 people in the 11 targeted wards, alleviating marital disputes and improving the quality of life in the region.

"This project will reduce outbreaks of waterborne diseases, child marriages, and absenteeism from school, while improving the wellbeing of many families," said Payovela.

The project is scheduled to be completed by October 2026, with an investment of over 44 billion Tanzanian shillings.