Abstract:
While Tanzania is endowed with enormous natural water resources, access to clean and safe water remains
a great challenge. For instance, out of twenty urban water supply authorities, only three (Arusha, Songea
and Tanga) supply water continuously. This paper examines factors influencing organisation efficiency of
water supply utilities in Tanzania, using Mbeya Urban Water Supply Authority (UWSA) as case in point.
The unit of analysis of this study were all employees of the Mbeya UWSA. Data were collected through
structured questionnaires, key informant interviews and documentary analysis. Descriptive analysis and onesample t-test were employed as data analysis methods. The findings show that human resource competences
in waste water management, civil engineering, distribution of water resources, other industrial services and
agricultural water management contributes to a small extent to organisation efficiency of the utility. Shortage
of funds, lack of priorities in government budget and low rate of return on investment contributes less to
organisation efficiency of the utility. The use of information and communication technology moderately
contributes to organisation efficiency while availability of working facilities, engagement in survey and
innovation in water management contributes to a small extent to organisation efficiency of the utility. The
study recommends Mbeya UWSA to take deliberate efforts to improve the attributes of human resource
competences, financial resources and physical resources that have bearing effect on the organization
efficiency of the utility in delivering services to customers.
