How a fenced spring can change a Tanzania village from scarcity to surplus
Construction of the barrier has significantly increased the water flow across the village's farms and households.
WEDNESDAY February 4, 2026
By The Tranquility News Correspondent, Tanzania
For years, Kabambe water source in northern Tanzania was a site of struggle. In the arid landscapes of the Monduli District the precious spring was a literal watering hole for everyone and everything: Local villagers, wandering livestock, and thirsty wildlife.
The result was a contaminated, depleted source that left the people of Selela Village rationing what little remained.
Today, the narrative has shifted. Thanks to a strategic intervention by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Kabambe water source has been secured, sparking an agricultural and domestic revival in the community.
The project, implemented by the indigenous media organization Media Aid for Indigenous and Pastoralist Community (MAIPAC), focused on a deceptively simple solution – a perimeter fence. By shielding the source from encroachment by people and animals, the water levels have surged.
“There is no more encroachment,” said Longidonyi Lunda, Chairman of the Selela Village government, adding: “The completion of the fence has increased the water flow significantly. We finally have enough for both drinking and irrigation.”
The impact on local productivity is measurable in hours and yields. Previously, parched soil required over six hours of irrigation per plot. Now, thanks to the increased flow, farmers can saturate a plot in just four hours.
Yamini Paulo Mndeme, Secretary of the irrigation canal, noted a visible spike in the production of bananas, vegetables, and fruits.
While neighbouring areas stifle under drought conditions, Selela’s canal remains full.
This initiative is not an isolated fix. It is part of the broader Respecting and Preserving Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in Conservation project.
According to MAIPAC Director Mussa Juma, the goal is to marry modern conservation techniques with local wisdom—a strategy also being deployed with the Hadzabe community in the Lake Eyasi Valley.
“We believe this project will be of great benefit… not only to increase income from agriculture but to ensure the Kabambe source is conserved for generations,” Juma statedΩ
