The Water Resource Management Act

1.–(1) There is hereby formed the Water Users Association hereinafter referred to as the “Association”. (2) The Association, including its Management Committee, shall have the status of a legal person and in that capacity it shall be capable of suing and being sued. (3) The liability of any venture of the Association shall be limited. 542 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 331 R.E. 2023] Objects of Association (4) The members of the Association shall be villagers, institutions, companies, committees and authorities or any person natural or legal, as may be users of water from sources located within the area of responsibility of the Association.

2. The objects of the Association shall be to: (a) manage, distribute and conserve water from a source used jointly by the members of the Association; (b) to construct, rehabilitate operate and maintain any works for the purposes of management of the water resource in its area of responsibility; (c) arbitrate in the resolution of conflicts between holders of water use permits with its area of responsibility; (d) agree by consensus of its members equitable reductions in the quantities of water abstracted from the source under its responsibility in times of drought or other restrictions on resource availability; (e) acquire and operate any water use permit under the provisions of this Act; and (f) do such other things as may be considered necessary by a majority of its members in order to manage the water resources in its area in a fair and equitable manner in accordance with the intent and provisions of this Act. Omitted

3. [Omitted.] Proceedings of Water Users Association Management Committee Act No. 8 of 2022 s. 22

4.–(1) An Annual General Meeting shall be held once each year. (2) An Extra-ordinary General Meeting of the Association may be called by five percent of members giving two weeks notice to the Secretary in writing. (3) One third of the full number of members containing no fewer than four from each of the upper and the lower area of the catchment or from each village present shall constitute a quorum. (4) Voting can be exercised by a member or proxy, provided that the proxy form is in the hands of the Secretary prior to the meeting. (5) A majority of votes at the Annual General Meeting shall decide the principles governing conservation, maintenance of works in the river in question and shall decide the assessments to be levied thereof and for expenses of the Association.

5.–(1) A Management Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Entity and shall consist of six elected members and at least two members shall be women. (2) The Committee so elected may sue and be sued in the name of the Association for moneys or otherwise, and shall have the powers to bind the Entity by contract. 543 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT [CAP. 331 R.E. 2023] (3) The Committee shall collect and receive any moneys due to the Association and pay moneys owing to the Association and open and maintain a bank account through its authorised officers and submit such annual audited accounts to the Association at the Annual General Meeting. (4) The Management Committee shall meet not less than once in each quarter of the year and all elected members must be present. (5) The Management Committee shall meet once in each quarter of the year and the quorum of the Committee shall be two thirds of all members. (6) The Management Committee shall also decide the extent, manner and time of levying the assessments laid down by the Annual General Meeting of the Association. (7) The Management Committee shall appoint and employ such employees as may be necessary to fulfill the purposes of the Association. Liability of members of Association Liability of Association

6. A member of the Association making default in payment of any fees or moneys so assessed and after receiving notice from the Committee shall, if such amount be correct, be personally liable to the Association.

7. The Association shall not be liable for any indebtedness other than that contracted by its Committee duly authorised in writing. Undertaking by members

8. Each member hereby undertakes with other members and each of them as follows: (a) to pay entrance fees as being elected to the Association, the amount set by General Meeting; (b) to pay all assessments levied against him by the Association; and (c) that he will not draw from the source more water than the amount specified, save as authorised by the Committee and will observe rules or regulations made by the Association. 544 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.