This study focused on community perception of their participation in the
implementation and sustainability of rural water projects in Morogoro Rural District
Council. Specifically the study intended to explore the understanding of people of
activities towards water projects implemented in their localities; examine roles of
community in implementing and sustaining rural water projects; examine perception
of community to their participation and sustainability of water projects implemented in
their localities.
The study population was the villagers, WEOs, VEOs, and WUAs in Morogoro Rural
district specifically in Mkambarani, Mvuha and Dalla villages. The study also targeted
District official in water department. Data of this study was collected through
questionnaires, interview, observation and documentary methods. A total of 112
respondents were reached and the data was processed and analyzed using SPSS.
It was observed that the community has low understanding of project activities
because all project activities were handled to contractors for implementation. With
this implementation strategy, the community was required to contribute 5% of project
cost and hence community participated through consultation in identifying project
water sources, and financial contribution in implementation and operationalization of
project. It was also learnt that water management was decentralized to community
themselves. It was also observed that some villagers perceived their participation as
supportive to project success where as others perceived their participation as
exploitative means by leaders due to fraud and lack of transparency on project fund
for operation and maintenances. Such perception demoralized participation of
community in Dalla and Mkambarani water projects respectively.
The study find it worth to institute mechanism to watch over accountability and
transparency of WUAs to get rid of fraud and unnecessary confidentialities on project
fund to enhance villagers trust to WUAs and hence project sustainability.