1 November 2009
Arusha — The Japanese government has pledged a fund of US $ 95,919 toward a water project for the drought stricken Longido District.
The grant fund offered to an NGO -- Ilkisongo Pastoralist Initiatives (IPI) -- of Longido through the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project will be used for rehabilitation of pipelines, cattle troughs and fitting material for the first phase of water related projects.
Japanese ambassador in Tanzania Hiroshi Nakagawa officially presented the grant cheque to the Director of the IPI, Mr Joseph Sanigo during a contract signing ceremony between Noondoto village, where the Longido administration is based, and the Japanese Embassy in Tanzania.
"I am sure the grant will be used effectively to solve our problems such as lack of grazing management due to scarcity of water sources," said Mr Sanigo during the occasion. He thanked Japan for the timely assistance.
Lack of water due to drought spell has been threatening lives of thousands of people in most areas of Arusha Region with Longido District fairing worst. A 20-litre bucket of water sometimes sells at Tsh.1, 000 in Longido.
According to the Namanga councilor Kishir Ole Nabak, the scarcity of water in the area was so serious that he was afraid people might die along with their dying livestock. Nabak said the able bodied morans had driven most of the animals to other regions such as Tanga and Morogoro in search of pasture.
The Longido district council has been making arrangement with the Arusha Municipal Council to hire of their old town fire engine to supply water from Namanga to Longido Township weekly.
One of the residents of Longido, a middle age woman, Sinyati William said she was afraid they may not survive the drought.
Elderly men, women and children left behind, after the 'Morans' departure to seek green pastures along the coast, are threatened also by looming famine.
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