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{
    "id": 494931,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/494931/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 150,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Katoo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 199,
        "legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
        "slug": "judah-ole-metito"
    },
    "content": "approved by this House under Clause 117, disputes arising from water uses are going to be addressed. Therefore, hon. Deputy Speaker, I would like to say that this Bill is very important in management, conserving, use and development of water and sewerage services. In both Parts II and III of the Bill, on the issue of water management, you know that we have so many institutions. I think those are the institutions that the Mover said they were unable to reduce. In every district we have what is called WARMA that manages rivers. We have District Water Services that check on underground water. You talk of boreholes, there is another one that talks of piped water. Those are several offices. You have the National Water and Pipeline Conservation that at times deals with pans and dams. There is also flood mitigation and these are several institutions and offices. I think the Water Act 2000 in a way tried to bring reforms but at times too many reforms may bring confusion. If you go to any district, you will find that the common mwananchi does not know which office to go to because there is an office dealing with rivers; there is one dealing with underground water; there is another one dealing with piped water; and another one dealing with pans and dams. They do not even know where to pay their bills. I think it is good that this Bill tries to mainstream these institutions so that they can be clear. It is like having both the left and the right hands not knowing what the other one is doing. I would urge the Committee that as they table their Report, it is good they take into account these issues. They should try to mainstream those institutions and maybe even collapse them into one or two, if need be. Hon. Deputy Speaker, on water conservation and I said it is well defined in the Bill under Clauses 20 and 21, the issue of protecting catchment areas and water towers or water sources is important. It is also important that the Cabinet Secretary has clearly defined those two clauses. This is where the Cabinet Secretary will gazette these catchment areas and water towers because they are very vulnerable. Also on ground water conservation, because almost all water other than rain water comes from the ground, if we do not conserve this ground water sources then the water towers and catchment areas are going to be a thing of the past. So, I know there is a lot of politics involved in it but the importance of conserving these areas outweighs the political gain by any measure."
}