Conflict in Tanzania

• Complex conflict (i.e all stakeholders blamed each other) between many players in basin of Great Ruaha River [semi arid area in Southern Highlands of Tanzania]
• River economically important to Tanzania as it provides water for rice growth and the generation of HEP maintains a Ramsar-status wetland (wetland of international importance) + important for wildlife tourism in Ruaha National Park
• Great Ruaha River has ceased flowing in dry season as water levels in large wetland in upper course has decreased below a critical level which is a major problem for lower course river uses
• National power shortage due to low flows through HEP scheme
• Desiccation in Ruaha National Park with wetland diminishing in size and causing problems for wildlife
• Increased competition for water causing disputes as supplies kept being turned off for domestic use
• A programme of scientific research projects was developed to test the theories of the stakeholders
• Programme looked at reasons for reduction in size and flows from wetlands and impact of HEP developments and role of upper and lower basin agriculture
• Conclusions: different parts of system were affected by low summer flow for different reasons
• Contributing factors: mismanagement of releases from reservoirs to maximise HEP generation and overuse of water for rice irrigation in dry season
• Scientific research did impact some stakeholder's views to some extent
• Emphasis now moved to developing integrated water management schemes
• General view:

  • Initial viewpoint: shrinking wetland, drying river and low reservoir levels were all closely related
  • After scientific research: shrinking wetland, drying river and low reservoir levels were separate issues
• Investigators (SMUWC/RIPARWIN):

  • Initial viewpoint: Various hypotheses were tested: combination of cattle, deforestation, climate change, irrigation, abstraction of water and total flows into Mtera/Kidatu
  • After scientific research: Dry season abstraction and environmental losses, which led to Ruaha River flows stopping. Miscalculation of drawdown stored water caused low reservoir levels
• Ministry of agriculture:

  • Initial viewpoint: Inefficient smallholder schemes required funding for improvement which would allow more water to flow downstream
  • After scientific research: Smallholders competed over water and so was quite efficient in their management
• Ministry of natural resources:

  • Initial viewpoint: Cattle and overgrazing were degrading the wetland, reducing its ability to hold and release water. Deforestation in the upper catchment was decreasing base flows in rivers
  • After scientific research: Cattle and overgrazing in the wetland remained the cause and deforestation remained a problem
• Ministry of water:

  • Initial viewpoint: Inefficient smallholder schemes and deforestation in the upper catchment
  • After scientific research: inefficient smallholder irrigation
• Mbarali District:

  • Initial viewpoint: cattle and overgrazing in the wetland and deforestation in the upper catchment
  • Perceptions remained the same after scientific research, 2003
• Friends of Ruaha and WWF:

  • Initial viewpoint: Large-scale irrigation schemes were abstracting water during the dry season. Damaged wetland from overgrazing.
  • After scientific research: Dry-season abstraction into all irrigation schemes. Damaged wetland.
• Electricity Supply Corporation:

  • Initial viewpoint: Scale and inefficiency of irrigation led to lack of water for power generation
  • After scientific research: Scale and inefficiency of irrigation