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Tanzania hosts regional annual Nile Day celebrations

Xinhua, February 19, 2017 Adjust font size:

Tanzania is next week expected to host the annual Regional Nile Day celebrations as a commemoration of the establishment of the 18-year-old Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), organizers said Saturday.

Sylvester Matemu, Assistant Director of water resources (Transboundary) in the Tanzania's Ministry of Water and Irrigation said that the day marked a major milestone in the history of Nile Cooperation.

NBI is an intergovernmental partnership of ten Nile Basin countries, namely Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Sudan.

"This is an important opportunity for NBI to enhance awareness and understanding among participants and Nile Basin citizens about the inter-relatedness as well as the importance of sustainable basin-wide Nile cooperation in ensuring energy, food and water security in the region," the official said in a statement.

He revealed that the historic event will be held in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.

"This is in addition to exposing participants to the rich and varied cultures, which exist within the Nile Basin," Matemu said, adding that the day will involve a number of activities such as public speeches and a brass band procession.

The event is expected to attract various NBI stakeholders including ministers in charge of water affairs in each member State, government officials, members of parliament, researchers and academia.

"Celebrated at both regional and national level since 2007, Nile Day provides an opportunity for Nile Basin citizens to come together to exchange on topical issues concerning how to best take care of and use the shared Nile Basin water and related resources for the benefit of current and future generations," Innocent Ntabana, NBI executive director said.

He said that the day also serves as an opportunity to enhance awareness about the benefits of basin-wide Nile cooperation, the challenges as well as consequences of non-cooperation while searching ways and means to further the cooperation. Endit