DAR ES SALAAM, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities are advancing a plan to harness major water sources, including lakes and large rivers, to ensure access to safe and clean water for all citizens while supporting key economic sectors, Minister of Water Jumaa Aweso said on Tuesday.

Presenting his ministry's budget estimates for the 2026/2027 fiscal year in parliament in the capital, Dodoma, Aweso said the strategy is being implemented through the national water grid, a flagship initiative designed to interconnect the country's major water sources and distribute water to all regions, including those facing acute shortages.

Aweso outlined progress on several key components of the plan, saying that for Lake Victoria, the government has completed a detailed design for a project to supply water from the lake to Dodoma via the Singida Region, with financing arrangements for construction currently underway.

Regarding Lake Tanganyika, design work is ongoing for projects aimed at supplying water to the regions of Kigoma, Katavi and Rukwa, he said, adding that preparations are continuing for projects to utilize water from Lake Nyasa to serve the southern regions of Ruvuma and Njombe.

On the utilization of major rivers, Aweso said a feasibility study has been completed for a project to draw water from the Rufiji River to supply Dar es Salaam and parts of the Coast Region, with detailed engineering design now in progress.

To finance the initiative, the government will mobilize resources through annual budget allocations, concessional loans from financial institutions, and public-private partnership arrangements with the private sector, Aweso said. ■