Tanzania, German sign pact for water, power provision in Senapa

BY PROSPER MAKENE 17th December 2013 KfW Development Bank KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Development Cooperation has signed new pacts to the tune of euros55m (equivalent to 121.89bn/-) for the provision of water and energy infrastructure in Serengeti National Park (Senapa). Speaking shortly after signing the contract, Finance ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Servacius Likwelile said the grant agreement will make a contribution of euros20.5m (equivalent to 45.059bn/-) to support the development and conservation of Senapa ecosystem. Likwelile also said that through the support, different activities will be implemented such as investmenting the land and natural resources use plan, improvement of the social infrastructure development and rehabilitation of feeder roads in Loliondo and Serengeti districts. “The grant will also support the improvement of the Serengeti National Park infrastructure, equipment provision and construction of rangers’ posts and pipelines for clean water supply as well as rehabilitation of Seronera visits centre,” he said. He added: “The successful implementation of these activities will help sustainable management of natural resources at the Senapa, which will involve anti poaching and social economic development in the selected districts bordering the park which are Loliondo and Serengeti.” The PS pointed out that the implementation of the project will also enable the country to achieve various objectives such as connecting 32,500 rural people to access electricity in the northwestern part of the country, connecting the national grid to Rusumo Hydropower plant which would make the export and import of power to the neighbouring countries of Rwanda and Burundi. “I am happy to note that the third agreement will enable the government of Germany to make a contribution of euro15m (equivalent to 32.97bn/-) to support water sector development programme phase three,” he said. He also noted: “Under the Water Sector Development Programme Phase Three, different components will be implemented such as water resources development, rural water supply and sanitation services, urban water supply and sewage services as well as sector institutional strengthening and capacity building.” He underscored that the implementation of these activities will contribute significantly to national strategy for growth and reduction of poverty through provision of clean and reliable water supply for the community. “Communities will reduce the time wasted in looking for water in long distances for domestic use and will give them time to concentrate in their development activities as well as reduce the risks of having water borne diseases,” he said. For his part, Hans Koeppel, German Charge d’Affaires in Tanzania said: “Our support underlines Germany’s wishes to strengthen the long standing and deep relationships my country maintains with Tanzania in order to contribute to the well-being and prosperity of its citizens.” Koeppel also said that over the last five decades, German bilateral cooperation with Tanzania has amounted to euros2.03bn of which the focus of German Development Cooperation in the country is on energy, water, biodiversity and health. “The German government’s development policy is planned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the embassy in Tanzania is responsible for liaising with the host government and coordinates the German development activities with other development partners,” he said. He added: “The German bilateral programme are implemented by executing agencies such as GIZ- Deutsche Bundesantalt Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, KfW Development Bank, BGR- Bundesantalt fur Geowissenschaften und Rohsoffee and PTB- Physikalisch-technische Bundesantalt.” Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) director general Allen Kijazi said that the grant has come at the right time in that Serengeti National Park faces a number of challenges such as water and other infrastructures. He added that the grant will therefore help to overcome the challenges. “We thank Germany for the support, the grant will help us to solve a number of challenges that face Serengeti National Park including the building of a water pipeline to ensure that the park gets reliable supplies,” he said. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN