Development of sustainable management model for river basins in Tanzania: the case of great Ruaha River basin for electricity power generation

Electricity as a form of energy is amongst the most important services in the World that shapes the human life and development. Electrical energy is an engine to support economic growth of the country and their citizens. Tanzania has fallen into power crises at different times from 1992 due to failure of Mtera dam which is the main water reservoir power generation. The main objective of this study is to develop sustainable water and river basin management, planning and development model and management framework in the case of Great Ruaha River Basin to links to effectiveness of demand, social and economic activities in the basin. Water balance approach which based on water accounting methods was employed to study the water balance in the basin which leads to development of sustainable management model and management framework. The results from the study indicate unsustainable use of water in the basin. Successive irrigation, illegal water use, environmental degradation, excess use of water than permitted, excessive evaporation and animal grazing were found to be the main reasons. The water balance approach becomes a powerful tool of water use analysis in the basin. it is recommended to use the approach and implementation of the developed sustainable management model and management framework to attain sustainable basin use for environmental sustainability.