MWANZA URBAN WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION AUTHORITY (MWAUWASA)

Mwanza Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (MWAUWASA) was established in July 1996 under Water Works Ordinance Cap 281 (as amended by Act no 8 1997 of) as a semi autonomous executive agency of the government for provision of adequate, reliable and sustainable portable water and waste water management services in Mwanza City at affordable and cost effective prices. It was declared full autonomous from January 1998 and was authorized to extend services to Kisesa Township in Magu District from September 2007. The Authority is wholly owned by the Government of Tanzania.

The reason MWAUWASA exists is ‘Water’. MWAUWASA is a legally mandated to supply portable water and sanitation services to the Mwanza City and Kisesa Township in Magu District. Guided by her Vision and Mission and the National Water Policy, the Authority strives to offer quality services commensurate with the best practices. The consumers, on the other hand, have a responsibility to pay for the full cost of water and waste water management services rendered to them so as to enable the Authority to continue providing and improving the services.

The Authority operates according to Water Supply and Sanitation Act no 12 of 2009, Water Works Regulations of 2013, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry responsible for Water, Public Procurement Act No 7 of 2011 and its regulation of 2013, Public Finance Act 2001 (as amended), MoU between the Government and Development Partners (2006), Operating License issued by EWURA and Operational Guidelines. The authority is managed under the Executive Board of Directors appointed by the Minister responsible for water. The Board comprises of 10 members representing various Authority’s stakeholders (Domestic Consumers, Large Consumers, Commercial Consumers, City Council Administration, Regional Administration, Councilors, Women, Ministry Responsible for Water, Authority Management and Chairperson). The Board sets policy and an overall direction of the Authority. The Board serves for a three years term and an individual member (not representing institution) is eligible for appointment for a maximum of two consecutive terms. The Authority operations are monitored by the ministry responsible for water and regulated by EWURA.

MWAUWASA is domiciled in Mwanza City, the Capital of Mwanza Region. The City lies along the southern shores of Lake Victoria on the North-west of Tanzania and is uniquely identified with lot of natural rocky outcrop hills. It has two districts (Ilemela and Nyamagana), and is the second largest urban center in Tanzania with an estimate population of 781,819 people of which 95.8% (about 749,247) is under water service coverage. Water supply area coverage is at 75% while Sewerage service covers 23.7% only. The City is an important transport hub, especially for water transport across Lake Victoria to towns in the North-western part of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda and has good air and railway transport links to Dar es Salaam.

The Controller and Auditor General (CAG) and/or his appointee(s) are the Auditors of the Authority by virtue of the provisions of Article 143 of the Constitution of the URT and Sections 30(i)(d) and 37(5) of the Public Finance Act 2001 (as amended). The accounts of the Authority are prepared on commercial basis and audited every year since 1998/99

Since water is life and key to development and poverty alleviation and is a basic need to everybody; be rich or poor, MWAUWASA remains with a duty to contribute significantly to development and poverty reduction by reducing the risks of waterborne diseases through improved access to quality water and wastewater management services.