The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Salma Said
15 September 2008
Zanzibar residents have disputed water bills distributed by the local water authority, claiming that they were not ready to pay for a service they have not enjoyed for years.
They told The Citizen yesterday that they were surprised to be served with bills when their water taps have been dry for over 10 years.
Since early this month, staff of the Zanzibar Water Authority have been distributing the bills, asking the residents to settle their accounts by the end of this month regardless of whether they accessed water or not.
The situation has fueled anger among the residents especially, at this time when they are fasting and prepare for Idd el Fitr holidays. The demanded payment, they said, would compounding economic hardships they face because of rising inflation. Some residents have rejected the bills on the grounds that they can not pay for a service that does not exist.
"We have refused to pay now until we are supplied with the precious liquid," observed one Ali Juma.
The demand to settle the bills by the Zanzibar Water Authority which also covers Pemba, comes weeks after the completion of the first phase of a multi-billion shillings water project in Unguja island.
The project, financed by the Japanese government, was completed recently and inaugurated by President Amani Abeid Karume, would enable residents of Unguja access clean water, safe supply.
According to the distributed outstanding water bills, the residents are required to pay Sh4,000 per month per household while public offices are to pay between Sh20,000 and Sh200,000 per month.
"We request the government to lower the tariff as Sh4,000 is too high for ordinary citizens to afford," said another resident Ms Fatma Mohamed Khamis.
Inaugurating the water project two weeks ago, President Karume asked the wananchi to pay for the service when it becomes available in their homes.
But many areas of Unguja island are yet to access clean water despite the inauguration of the water project.
For over 44 years, people in Unguja and Pemba have been enjoying free water supply since the 1964 Zanzibar revolution.
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