Satellite images show how the worst drought in recent years has reduced the water level in the Ruaha Meku River and its tributaries, which has reached its lowest level this month.

Residents and witnesses say the river has completely dried up.

Deforestation, farming and ranching have caused long periods of drought in the Great Ruaha River basin in Tanzania which was previously full of water, flowing strongly most of the time.

Historically, the last time the river did not flow for a longer period was in 2013 when places like Ibuguziwa dried up completely.

Assistant Conservation Commissioner and Administrative Officer at Ruaha National Park, Godwell Ole Meing'ataki told HabariLEO on Monday that "we are taking action."

Those measures, according to the commissioner, include preventing more human activities along the river that include livestock grazing and agriculture.

"We are creating new guidelines and procedures for breeders," he said and added "We want to remove all livestock."

A long dry season has been seen in the valley as some communities in Dar es Salaam and the coastal zone are struggling to get the right water.

Meing'ataki said a task force has been formed to clear the roads made by farmers as part of their low-cost irrigation scheme.

These water diversion routes go from Mbarali, through Kimani and to Chimala river.

The Minister of State Office of the Vice President Union and Environment Dr. Selemani Jafo has stopped all humanitarian activities in the big river last week.

He wanted immediate action from the regional authorities including planting trees to restore water sources.

Vice President Dr. Philip Mpango has also ordered people who built residential buildings near the river to demolish their buildings and leave the area.

HabariLEO could not confirm how many people will be affected.

The level of damage on the Ruaha River is almost the same as other big rivers, Water Minister Jumaa Aweso has said in an interview.

Minister Aweso says, the professional evaluation of the river and the one done in the Ruvu River has discovered several diversion and mining activities that generally caused a water shortage.

"The water of the Great Ruaha has dried up, as well as the Ruvu River.

If effective measures are not taken, the country will be facing the same disaster every November.

The region of Dar es Salaam and the Coast has suffered from the effects of climate change.

The two regions are largely dependent on the water of the Ruvu River," he said.

The drying up of the Ruaha River began in 1994, according to official records.

Since then, Mto has been facing that challenge year after year.

The river is important for the sustainability of the Mwalimu Nyerere Dam Hydroelectric Project - a project that aims to generate 2115 megawatts of electricity