Senators Thursday resolved to summon Prime Minister, Edouard Ngirente, to explain how government plans to address challenges of limited access to clean water. The MPs made the resolution after the presentation of a damning report by the senatorial Standing Committee on Economic Development and Finance. The report is a culmination of the committee’s countrywide tour, which started in February 2018 in order to establish the current level of access to water across the country. Based on their findings, senators are worried that the prevailing challenges could hinder the country from attaining its 2014 targets of universal access to clean water. Their report indicates that issues preventing many Rwandans from accessing clean water include lack of data to indicate the real access to water and available water resources across the country, run-down water lines that critically need speedy and constant maintenance, as well as poor partnership between districts and private operators in the area of water processing and provision. The challenges of access to water are compounded by poor performance of District Wash Boards that are in charge of water and sanitation as well as failure to harvest rain water. Parliamentarians are also worried that the water sector is poorly funded. Jacqueline Muhongayire, who chairs the senatorial Standing Committee on Economic Development and Finance, said that her committee found that there is no credible data to show the level of access to water even as many Rwandans clearly struggle to get clean water. “Most reports talk about the available water infrastructure but what we want to know is whether there is access to water,” she said. The Director General of Water and Sanitation Corporation (Wasac), Aimé Muzola, told the senators on the committee in February this year that the number of Rwandans who actually get water could be 60 per cent. That’s the situation, he said, even if those who have access to water infrastructure is at the 84.8 per cent, as indicated by the fourth Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV4) published in September 2015. With senators at Thursday’s session criticising the government for the absence of a water supply master plan with meagre resources to fund plans for universal access to water, they decided to summon the Prime Minister to explain how the government plans to achieve its target. “This is a serious problem. I think we should invite the Prime Minister to talk about it,” said Senator Charles Uyisenga. The Vice-President of the Upper House, Fatou Harerimana, agreed with the idea of inviting the Prime Minister to the Senate. “This is an issue that involves many ministries. We should invite the Prime Minister to give reassurances that what the Head of State promised citizens will be achieved,” she said. Though EICV4 indicated that 84.8 per cent of Rwandans access potable water within 500 metres from their homes in rural areas and 200 metres in urban areas, senators are concerned that the percentage could actually be about access to water infrastructure lines instead of actual water. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
