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Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice-President, Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja.

By Lake Zone Watch Writer 

Government plans to buy special machines for removing water weeds in Lake Victoria which are now becoming an environmental hazard.

At the same the government will also mobilise fishing communities in Africa’s largest lake to harvest the fast-spreading water hyacinth weeds, Permanent Secretary in the Vice-President’s Office, Eng Cyprian Luhemeja, said in Mwanza after an on-the-spot tour of the affected areas of the lake at the weekend.

Eng Luhemeja directed Mwanza regional authorities to craft strategies in containing the weeds before the problem becomes incontrollable.

He directed the Regional Commissioner’s Office, the National Environmental Management Council and the Lake Victoria Water Basin to collaborate in the matter in seeking a lasting solution.

Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Saidi Mtanda, said at least 600 tons of the water weeds are harvested on a daily basis at the Busisi-Kigongo ferry.

He said a team of trained fishermen has already been deployed to the area to ensure the weeds do not disrupt transportation activities involving three boats crossing the ferry every day.

“We’re paying 2m/- every day to fishermen doing the job. All this is done to ensure smooth transportation of passengers as the boats cross from one side of the lake to another,” Mtanda said.