Impacts of lake level changes to the community around lake Victoria: the case study of Misungwi Districts Tanzania

Lake Victoria experienced drastic water level changes from October 2005 raising concern to the livelihood of the communities around the lake. The study investigated the impact of lake level changes on the domestic water supply, fish catches, agricultural output and prevalence of WRD. The research was conducted through a qualitative approach. Documentation on rainfall, lake levels, water sources, fish catches, crop land and crop yield as well as cases of malaria, diarrhoea and bilharzia were collected to support findings of the surveys. Results of the study indicated that receding water levels has led to increased cases in malaria, bilharzias and diarrhoea. The recession caused shortage of domestic water supply, decrease of fish catches and decrease of agricultural output. The increase in malaria cases resulted from increased breeding sites for mosquitoes due to clearing of wetlands for cultivation. The increase in bilharzia cases is related to fetching water in the lake as other sources like shallow wells dried up with water recession. The increase in diarrhoea cases are related to shortage of water for sanitation and general hygiene. Water supply decreased because of drying up of shallow wells, the main source of supply in the study area. Agricultural production fell due to increased distance to fetch water for bucket irrigation. The decreases in fish catches are related to fish migrating to deep waters. The study recommends; improved domestic water supply through public private partnership, defining (zoning) areas for farming, grazing and fishing, Health education and campaigns to combat WRD, facilitation and empowerment of communities through microfinance and other forms of credit to engage in alternative sources of livelihoods.