Water is a
key driver of economic and social development while it also has a basic
function in maintaining the integrity of the natural environment. However water
is only imperative and that water issues are not considered in isolation.
With climate variability and change, water scarcity has been a problem. Legal regulation on water management in Tanzania,
has evolved a long history and its governance mechanisms. Tanzania has been experiencing water sector reforms. Among these reforms is the
National Water Sector Programme (NWSDP 2006 -2025) which aims at attaining the
National Water Policy of 2002, and calls for integrated water resource management
through IWRM approaches which are participatory, multi sectoral and
multi-displinary
In Kilombero district water is an important and precious resource for sustainable development. All waters comes from catchments forests which are falling with territorial protected
areas namely: Udzungwa National Park managed by Tanzania National Parks
(TANAPA), Nanganje Forest Reserves and Masagati Forest Reserve. Quite recently,
Masagati and Nangaje Forest Reserves have been promoted into Kilombero Nature
Reserve, managed under Tanzania Forest Service (TFS). This vertical and horizontal change in
managing institutions increases the management effectiveness and monitoring
capabilities but may have a significant effect on livelihoods of the
surrounding communities. Within the catchments there are major rivers flowing
out which are quite important for irrigation schemes. Among others these are:
Kihansi, Myela, Mkula rivers and many other small rivers.
However, it was noted that, in 1970s there were about
79 permanent rivers, whereas in 2000s only 38 rivers were flowing throughout
the year and surprisingly by end of 2011, only 22 rivers had water throughout
the year. This is partly exacerbated by serious forest degradations and
livestock carrying capacity to be exceeded in some parts of the district. The recent count of livestocks stands at 38,900 heads but
the data are flawed by some authorities. In getting into solutions of some of
the problems on land and natural resources, land use planning was opted but in
some areas creates even more conflicts.
