Water use conflicts in northern Tanzania. A case study of Rundugai river catchment, Pangani basin Hzai District

Abstract

Water use conflicts in Tanzania have been identified as serious problems especially in highly populated and land scarce areas. Rundugai river catchment in Kilimanjaro region is one of the areas which are currently
experiencing high water use conflicts. The overall objective of this study was to assess water use conflicts in this catchment. Household surveys through questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect data from four villages around the catchment. Furthermore, participant observation and secondary data sources were used to supplement  information. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program was  used to analyze quantitative data whereas content and structural-functional analysis techniques were used for qualitative data analysis. Five types of key stakeholders/actors involved in regulating and negotiating access to  water resource were identified including Farmers, Village government, Pastoralists, TEGEMEO water users association and Pangani water basin. Crop production and animal husbandry were the major land uses pursued by local people around the catchment. Water use conflicts among farmers, between farmers and pastoralists were the most serious conflicts identified in the study area. Majority of the respondents believed that population  increase, water scarcity, inadequate participation by local community in the management of water resources, irregularity in scheduling water for irrigation were the main causes of water use conflicts in the study area. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the socio-economic factors that significantly influenced water use conflicts in the catchment included age,  farm size and gender. This study concluded that farmers versus farmers’ conflicts were prominent in the study area and the existing water use conflicts are basically due to human population increase and water scarcity  which made local communities to compete for water eventually leading into conflicts. The study calls for integrated approaches in setting appropriate playing ground for different users to develop sustainable conflict   management strategies over water use in the area.

Key Words: Water use conflicts; Rundugai Catchment; Hai District