The Minister for Water, Hon. Jumaa Aweso, has urged people to protect the environment of water sources by stopping indiscriminate cutting of trees and carrying out human activities to avoid drought.

He made the call immediately after visiting exhibition pavilions during the World Environment Day celebrations, which are ongoing at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in Dodoma.

Hon. Aweso said that the presence of sustainable water resources is a national security issue because the presence of water is a guarantee of food, electricity and development plans, all of which depend on a sustainable environment.

Also, Minister Aweso said it is time for Tanzanians to realise that environmental impacts should be a lesson, citing the example of the Ruvu River in the Coast region drying up due to climate change that was caused by humans themselves.

“The environmental impacts are clear; for example, if you go to Pangani the impacts are clear. Today we see the sea has eaten the city, and therefore the water depth is increasing, so these environmental challenges we are seeing now should be a lesson for us,” he said.

Despite these challenges, he thanked and commended the Office of the Vice President for preparing solid strategies and concrete steps it is taking in managing and preserving the environment.

He said all this is happening due to the efforts of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan who is the leader in managing the environmental agenda.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to visit these pavilions; indeed the Office of the Vice President has organised itself, and we as the Ministry of Water will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders in protecting and preserving the environment to ensure that Tanzania becomes better and safer, as you will remember, we have made policy changes to be in line with the environment,” said Hon. Aweso.

The exhibition, which is part of the World Environment Day celebrations, is expected to conclude on June 5, 2025, which will be its culmination.