Intra- and Inter-Sectorial Competition for Water Resources around Mwanga Town in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

Abstract

Economic development in Tanzania since the 2000s has revitalized local economies, especially those of small towns and their suburbs. Under such socio-economic transformation, development activities have come to compete with each other. Here, I examine the competition for water resources in and near a small town in northeastern Tanzania since the 2000s. The cases of such competition I present here, which I have collected through my fieldwork, are classified into three categories: competition within the agricultural sector, competition within the public service sector, and competition between the different sectors. Although official development projects and local initiatives are conducted with good intentions, conflict between stakeholders has arisen due to the relative scarcity of water resources. The conflicts and quarrels discussed here are currently not serious, but before a serious conflict does arise, a grand design for the water use and a mediation system to settle problems should be established.