(Pic: www.irinnews.org)
British water company Biwater is suing Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in the world, in revenge for being thrown out of country by the government earlier this year.
Tanzania signed a ten year water privatisation deal with Biwater in 2003 worth some $102 million. But the company failed to provide the investment it had promised or to improve water services in Tanzania’s cities, and was kicked out in May.
Anti-poverty campaigners reacted furiously to the news that Biwater is now taking Tanzania to court. “This is an absolute disgrace,” said Benedict Southworth of the World Development Movement (WDM).
“Tanzanian citizens are being punished for being the victims of a failed policy which they did not want.
“People on the ground report that water delivery was getting worse in many areas, and that Biwater’s use of bullying tactics was resulting in mass disconnections.”
For more information go to the WDM website www.wdm.org.uk