Full text can be accessed at http://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjds/article/view/47886Water scarcity is increasingly becoming a critical socio-economic and political problem all over the world. Water for agriculture, domestic use, livestock keeping, industries, transportation and energy supply is becoming scarce, and the situation is worsening. Fighting over access to water is increasing in Tanzania. Although frequency of declining levels of water in the Great Ruaha River is increasing, our understanding of the factors and the dynamics that drive this scarcity is inadequate. This article notes that factors that cause declining levels of water are stronger than the forces that act to prevent it. Some factors take place at the local, national and international levels; and the interactions among them. It is important to understand the root causes and take participatory and holistic approaches in addressing water scarcity in the Great Ruaha River and surrounding areas.