CATCHMENT COMMITEES

About Catchment Committees

Catchment Committee is the committee established under section 29 of the WRM Act No. 11 2009 for the purpose of managing particular watershed area termed as catchment. A catchment is the surface area and the underground stratum of land that collects water for supply a source of water within a designated hydrological boundary. According to Water Resources Management Act Catchment Committee is composed of not less than three and not more than five representatives where a Chairman of the committee is appointed by the Basin Water Board, one representative from Private Sector (eg. Mining, industries, agriculture, power producers), up to 2 members from the Water Users Association and one representative from LGAs, in this composition there should be atleast one third of women representation.

Catchment Committees in Pangani Basin

Pangani Basin is divided into administrative catchments of Kikuletwa-Ruvu, Mkomazi, Umba-Zigi, Pangani Main, Luengera, Mkomazi, Msangazi and Mkulumuzi. To date the Pangani Basin Water Board has managed to establish two Catchment Committee of Kikuletwa-Ruvu and Umba-Zigi where its members are due to be re- elected.

Kikuletwa Ruvu

Chairman of Kikuletwa Ruvu catchment comes from Uroki Boman’gombe Water Supply Trust, Secretary comes from Kikuletwa Catchment Water Office while Water Users Associations are represented by Kware and Weruweru Water Users Association and Local Government Authority is represented by Meru District.

Umba Zigi

Chairman of Umba Zigi catchment comes from Tanga-Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority, Secretary come from Umba-Zigi Catchment Water Office while Water Users Associations are represented by Upper Zigi and Lower Zigi Water Users Association and Local Government Authority is represented by Muheza District Council representative.

Significance of Catchment Committees

• To enhance stakeholders’ participation through dialogue, collaboration and consensus.
• Raise awareness on WRM challenges and environmental, economic and social implications for water flows & allocation.
• Integrating community-level, district and regional concerns into basin-level planning.
• Strengthen national support and inform other communities in the basin.
• Co-ordinate and harmonize catchment IWRM plans such as harminization of water use related conflicts in the catchment.
• Strengthen the capacity of Managers in Pangani Basin to manage and allocate water resources.