The call was made during Africa Day commemorations in Dar es Salaam, where leaders and policymakers warned that inadequate access to clean water and sanitation continues to undermine economic development, public health and social stability across large parts of the continent.

Speaking at the Africa Day Gala Dinner on Sunday, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, said sustainable access to water and sanitation would be central to Africa’s long-term prosperity and the achievement of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 development blueprint.

This year’s Africa Day celebrations were held under the theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”

Ambassador Kombo described the theme as particularly relevant as many African countries continue to face water shortages, weak sanitation systems and growing environmental pressures despite the continent possessing vast natural resources.

“Access to clean water and proper sanitation is fundamental to human dignity, public health, food security, education and economic development,” he said.

He added that no country could achieve sustainable economic progress without ensuring reliable access to safe water and sanitation services for its population.

The remarks come as African governments and international development agencies increasingly warn that water insecurity could become one of the continent’s most pressing challenges in the coming decades, particularly in regions vulnerable to drought, desertification and climate-related shocks.

According to international development estimates, hundreds of millions of Africans still lack access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services, with rural communities and rapidly growing urban settlements among the most affected.

Ambassador Kombo said African governments must deepen regional cooperation and increase investment in water infrastructure, climate resilience and sustainable resource management to meet rising demand.

He noted that Tanzania has expanded water supply and sanitation services under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, efforts he said had gained international recognition and positioned the country among African states making progress in the sector.

The minister also linked water security to broader economic and social challenges facing the continent, including poverty, unemployment and industrial development.

“The battle before us now is to eradicate poverty, create jobs for our youth and reduce unemployment,” he said.

He argued that Africa’s rapidly growing youth population could become a major driver of economic transformation if governments continue investing in education, entrepreneurship, technology and industrialisation.

“Our government, together with other African nations, is working to promote youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, industrial growth, technological advancement and stronger intra-African trade to ensure Africa’s vast resources benefit Africans themselves,” he said.

Ambassador Kombo further stressed the importance of Pan-African cooperation in addressing shared continental challenges, saying unity among African nations remains critical to accelerating development and strengthening Africa’s position in the global economy.

Africa Day is commemorated annually on May 25 to mark the founding of the African Union and to honour the role played by the continent’s independence leaders in advancing unity, liberation and development across Africa.

Notes to Editors

– The story should be framed as a strategic development and climate resilience issue, not merely a ceremonial Africa Day event.

– Water insecurity is increasingly viewed as a cross-sector threat affecting:

health

agriculture

education

industrialisation

urban stability.

– The linkage to Agenda 2063 gives the story continental policy significance beyond Tanzania.

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