THE government has drilled 23 wells across 19 villages in Chunya District, Mbeya Region, significantly reducing water scarcity and lowering costs for local residents.

Eng. Olineno Sanga, acting manager of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) in Chunya District, announced the milestone during the inauguration of a new water well in Soweto village, Kasanga Ward. He explained that this initiative had reduced the cost of water, bringing the price of a 20-liter bucket down from 500/- to just 250/-, thus easing the financial burden on local families.

“The government has allocated substantial funding for these projects and provided a drilling machine, which had helped us significantly reduce water scarcity. We are optimistic that in the coming years, this issue will be fully addressed,” Sanga said.

He also noted that for the 2024/2025 financial year, the government had allocated additional funds for 10 new water projects in the district, five of which are already completed and the others are underway.

Lupa MP, Masache Kasaka, shared that water access in the district has dramatically improved, rising from just 26 percent in 2020 to over 50 percent today. Previously water-scarce areas such as Sangambi, Upendo, Lupa Tingatinga, Ifumbo, Kambikatoto, and parts of Kiwanja Ward have seen significant improvements, with some areas now having more domestic water.   

“Places like Matondo and Matundasi now have plenty of water. This is also the case for Lupa market, Ifumbo, and Sangambi, which previously faced severe shortages,” Kasaka explained.

Chunya District Commissioner Mbaraka Batenga urged residents to protect the new water infrastructure, emphasising that significant government funds have been invested. He also called for regular monitoring by RUWASA officers to ensure the sustainability of the projects.

Chunya District has long faced water shortages, forcing residents to rely on unsafe water sources. However, the new initiatives marked a significant step towards ensuring safe and reliable access to water for the community.