Tanzanian PM urges regional cooperation to protect Lake Victoria

Tanzanian Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba called on East African Community (EAC) member states to strengthen cooperation in protecting Lake Victoria, highlighting its importance for the livelihoods and economies of millions in the region.

Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake and the world's second-largest freshwater lake by surface area. It is shared by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and supports millions of people through fishing, transport, agriculture, and trade. However, it faces serious threats from pollution, climate change, invasive species, and environmental degradation.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the inaugural Lake Victoria Day in Mwanza City, Nchemba emphasized that the lake is a shared resource, not the property of any single country, and serves as a unifying asset for the regional bloc.

“Lake Victoria connects us as a community, and we must work together to protect its environment, security, and economic potential,” he said.

The event, themed “Our Water, Our Future: Unite for the Sustainability of the Lake Victoria Basin,” brought together representatives from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Nchemba said the annual celebrations aim to promote sustainable management of water resources, strengthen regional solidarity, and encourage collective responsibility in protecting the lake’s ecosystem.

Nchemba added that Tanzania would continue collaborating with EAC partners to improve water transport safety, address environmental degradation, as well as expand the use of technology in fisheries monitoring, water quality management, and climate change adaptation.