Tanzania’s model village unveils plan for greener future

By Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) – A model green village in Tanzania's smoke-belching city of Dar es Salaam has unveiled its bold and ambitious sustainability plans, outlining aggressive actions it will take to address urgent environmental challenges in order to create a better future.

The plan outlines key environmental issues and commits to addressing the creation of green space, jobs, building affordable homes for cash-strapped residents, and urban tourism promotion.

The most significant of these is to minimize carbon footprint as part of efforts to combat the growing threat of climate change by supporting more sustainable operations such as pollution reduction, green space development, and biodiversity conservation.

Reeves Ngalemwa, chairman of the WHC Mabwepande Green Village Home Owners Association (MGVHOA), said the new initiative is part of the wider government effort on environmental sustainability, which is being developed under the banner of reducing carbon footprint.

“We want to build a strong community of deeply committed and self-driven individuals who have what it takes to promote the green agenda and create a better future,” Ngalemwa told Anadolu Agency.

He said the village uses the urban nexus approach with the aim to efficiently exploit water and energy resources.

The village is seeking $185,000 in funding from local and international organizations including Habitat International, the Swedish Agency for Development (SIDA), and global ecovillage networks to complete some of its projects like self-sufficient clean energy such as solar, biogas, and wastewater management in a closed-loop system.

According to Ngalemwa, the village is striving to educate its residents about the importance of taking a green approach by sharing best practices and experiences from other successful eco/green communities throughout the world.

“We encourage community participation to create a sense of ownership and environmental protection," he explained.

He said apart from supporting environmental and conservation activities, the organisation has teamed up with other partners to make the village a hub for nature and cultural tourism, connecting it with Pande game reserve, Saadani National Park, Mikumi National Park, and the Zanzibar Archipelago, which consists of several islands lying off the coast of East Africa and south of the Somali sea.

As part of the initiative, the MGVAHOA is seeking additional funds to pave village roads, build a modern perimeter fence, install smart security systems, treat sewage, gather rainwater, and install a 100,000-liter water storage tank.​​​​​​​

- Quick glimpse

A quick glimpse on a duck and her ducklings lazily sprinkling water with their nostrils in a shallow pond adjacent to a cluster of sixty-five homes on the outskirts of the capital Dar es Salaam captures the enduring beauty of Mabwepande green village.

Nestled on a steep ridge, overlooking tiled-roofed bungalows – emerging like mushrooms on Mabwe road, the sights and sounds of this village offer a rare glimpse and exceptional panorama of a calm neighbourhood that is becoming a symbol of the city’s changing face.

From Pande game reserve to Riverwood bar to Pasto Bella, visitors usually immerse themselves in the unique lifestyle and sheepishly indulge their curiosity on how the villagers successfully maintain their environment.

Since attaining legal status, the village has undergone insightful change, transforming it into an inspirational model of a sustainable future by combining economic development with environmental sustainability, poverty reduction, and the delivery of innovative environmental solutions for the benefit of its residents, officials said.

- Agenda for sustainability

The village has adopted a more holistic approach to environmental sustainability, which observers say will support the development of an integrated approach to acting on the environment, economy, health, and bridging inequality - a critical component of the United Nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

While residents of Dar es Salaam rely heavily on natural resources such as land, forests, water, and wildlife as a basis for farming, fishing, household energy, and tourism, these resources are becoming increasingly strained as a result of rising population, pollution, massive deforestation, and climate change.

With the assistance of the government and other international partners, Ngalemwa said the village is striving to solve these challenges and contributes to sustainable environmental management and poverty reduction.

The village is on the verge of adopting innovative technologies, including rainwater harvesting systems, the use of biogas residue as fertilizer, and a tree-planting drive to combat climate change, he said.

The project was designed and built by Watumishi Housing Company, a state-owned property developer known for its track record of protecting people struggling for survival. It is in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements more inclusive.

The rapid development of Tanzania’s domestic tourism is receiving great attention, thanks to the culture of the people, booming economy, and abundant tourism resources.

While conservation interventions mainly focus on changing behaviours and promoting sustainable practices, analysts say their success must be linked to natural resource governance and equitable distribution of costs and benefits.

- Protecting biodiversity

Pantaleon Shoki, executive secretary of the MGVHOA, said the organization is working to capitalize on underutilized potential and establish strategic conservation around the Pande forest reserve.

According to Shoki, the MGVAHOA is committed to biodiversity conservation through adhering to the principles underlying the International Conventions on Biodiversity, to which Tanzania is a signatory.

As the effects of climate change continue to be seen, the organization is aiming to improve conservation efforts by engaging local communities.

The village intends to invest in real estate development as part of a wider effort to meet the growing demand for housing.

“We will team up with potential investors or financiers to secure land and build low-cost houses for low- and middle-income people,” he said.