Life begins early in Mabatini, a bustling slum perched precariously on the hills of Mwanza, Tanzania. Children’s laughter mingles with the sounds of fishmongers and the clatter of cooking pots. Overlooking the chaos from a rocky outcrop, fisherman Elias Kabashi watches Lake Victoria glisten in the morning light. For him, the shimmering lake represents a fading legacy. Once brimming with life, the waters have been ravaged by pollution, plastic waste, and urban pressures.
“This lake gave us everything,” says Kabashi, who has fished its waters for over a decade. “Now, the fish are smaller, fewer, and sometimes unfit to eat. We are destroying what sustains us.”
Lake Victoria, spanning Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, is a vital resource for millions. However, in Mwanza, Tanzania’s second-largest city, uncollected waste and untreated sewage are poisoning the lake. Daily, over 350 tons of solid waste are generated, much of which ends up clogging rivers or sinking to the lakebed. Informal settlements like Mabatini lack access to waste management services, leaving garbage to accumulate and flow into waterways during rains.
The Kenge and Mirongo rivers, carrying untreated sewage and industrial runoff, funnel pollutants directly into the lake. Children play in the murky waters, while women wash clothes near oily runoff from car washes. A 2023 study by the University of Dar es Salaam found alarming levels of microplastics in the lake, with 20% of sampled fish containing plastic fragments.
“We are poisoning the fish we depend on,” laments Kabashi. “It’s like we’re slowly killing ourselves.”
Mwanza’s hilly terrain exacerbates waste management issues. Many residents rely on pit latrines that overflow during rains, turning paths into sludge-filled streams. Efforts by the Mwanza Urban Water and Sewerage Authority, such as introducing urine-diverting toilets, offer glimpses of sustainable sanitation. Yet, adoption has been slow, hindered by mistrust and limited government support.
Community leader Esther Masanja highlights the challenges: “We need more than toilets. We need clean water, education, and real investment in our communities.”
The crisis extends beyond Mwanza, requiring collaboration among the three nations bordering Lake Victoria. The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) of the East African Community spearheads initiatives like Lakewide Inclusive Sanitation (LWIS) to combat pollution and restore ecosystems.
Masinde Bwire, LVBC Executive Secretary, emphasized to Anadolu Agency the lake’s importance for regional livelihoods and environmental stability. “We are addressing industrial waste, promoting recycling, and implementing stricter environmental regulations,” Bwire stated.
Despite these efforts, change feels slow for those on the ground. Kabashi questions, “We hear about projects, but what really improves? Every year, the lake suffers more.”
Waste pickers who salvage materials for recycling offer a glimmer of hope, underscoring the irony that the poorest often work hardest to mitigate damage they didn’t cause.
Scientists and environmentalists agree that saving Lake Victoria is possible but requires urgent, unified action. For Kabashi and his community, the stakes are clear: “This lake is our lifeline. Without it, we lose everything.”