Words from Tanzania

This may be hard to relate to but what seems so basic, even a right to most westerners is a difficult situation here in sub-Saharan Africa. Water.

The Southeastern Iowa Synod has many partner parishes in the Diocese of Pare, and a common dialog with many of them is how to help the villages create a sustainable water supply and delivery system. In the dry lowlands, water is just plain scarce. These areas are dependent on mountain catchment systems or water wells, or hand-made irrigation channels. Many times in the dry seasons, water just is not available. In the mountain areas, water is available year-round, but it gushes down the mountain and could be “caught” and distributed for families and crops. In dirt irrigation channels, up to 20% of the water evaporates and seepage may take another 10-20%. By the time the water reaches the lowlands, only a trickle may be left.

The cycles of cropping in Africa follow the rainy seasons. In this area there are two rainy seasons, the short rains from October through December, and the long rains from March through May. Other areas of Tanzania may have a similar pattern, but some regions such as the southern highlands have one long rainy season, from November through April. In a perfect situation, rainwater would be collected in large reservoirs and controlled distribution could occur. In the North and South Pare areas, many small reservoirs (see picture above of example of a water sand dam located in the North Pare mountains) and delivery systems would have to be built for the approximately 360,000 people in the two districts. We don’t have a clue as to where the money would come from for this.

The Pangaro water well project in the Maasai area (see picture above of Maasai villagers helping to install well pipe) that we have written about previously is still in-progress. The pump did not pass the test, and is in need of repair. We already repaired the generator, and now the water crew will be called back to install the repaired pump. This is a minor inconvenience to us compared with the people who have not had a working well for over two years. Their women are walking 12 kilometers with buckets to get their water.

The last few weeks in Same where we live, the main water delivery system in the town was shut down. We immediately saw a train of people coming to our area, as there is a mountian spring supply for the Diocese buildings. The young girls would shyly ask for some water, and who could deny? On normal days when the water system is working, they have to pay up to 400 T-shillings for 20 liters of water. They fill up buckets and other containers and carry or trolley them to their homes.

I’d say there is nothing taken for granted when you’re talking about water in this part of the world. The people here are very thankful for rain, and very patient when water is not available.