Njombe: lack of potable water alarming

For about three months now, pupils and students in Njombe Penja in the Moungo Division of the Littoral region have been having difficulty going to school as a result of the lack of running water and this has adversely impacted their education:

“For three months now we have not had drinking water flow from our taps. We go to school late everyday because we need to go to the stream and fetch water to bath before heading to school. Even after school we don’t have time to study because after school, we take the empty containers to the overcrowded streams to fetch water,” a student explains.

The stream water is undoubtedly unsafe, and this is worsened by the fact that children swim and play inside.

“We are aware it is not safe for drinking. We are aware of water borne diseases but what are we supposed to do? We have no choice than fetch for cooking, drinking and washing,” another student adds.

This stream serving them is far off their homes. They often cluster to plunge into the stream to fill their containers. Those who are scared of diving spend hours at the stream if no one is ready to help them.

These pupils and students who have been sacrificing their education to fetch water join their parents to implore their local authorities to intervene so that water scarcity can become an issue of the past.