Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has outlined measures currently being undertaken to improve business environment for small scale entrepreneurs so that they effectively contribute to the country’s economic growth.
Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr Innocent Bashungwa said that the government is currently constructing market infrastructures to enable the traders conduct their business in a safe and orderly manner.
Mr Bashungwa made the remark on wednesday during the launch of 10.2bn/- Njombe Central Market- an event which was graced by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He said the modern market is an illustration of the President Samia’s intension to ensure that small scale traders conduct their businesses in friendly and safe environment.
“We commend the president for releasing the funds to ensure that the market is constructed and completed,” he said.
The minister noted that, the market has all important infrastructures, adding that its security would be further guaranteed by the supervision of Njombe Town Council.
He said his ministry continues to implement the President’s directives noting that, the Head of State has also released some funds for the construction of a modern market for petty traders in Dodoma.
“We have also met with the Ministry of Finance and Planning to see how we can squeeze some funds from our own sources for the construction of such infrastructures, especially in cities and municipals,” Minister Bashungwa said.
Elaborating, the minister pointed out that the market infrastructures will be built basing on the needs of the respective areas, where there are many small scale entrepreneurs especially in cities and municipals.
Commenting on old markets, he said, the government plan is to ensure that they are thereafter upgraded to modern standards.
He cited the undergoing construction of Kariakoo International Market, saying upon completion, it will also improve the scenery of the city.
Briefing President Samia on the market project, Njombe Town Council Engineer Benadetha Mihambo said that before it, the previous one had no sufficient infrastructures and did not guarantee security for people and their commodities.
She said before the commencement of the project , the council conducted awareness campaign to traders so that they voluntarily vacate the area to pave way for construction of the modern market.
Eng Mihambo said that the construction of the market started officially in 2018 and was completed in September 2020.
She said the market comprises basement area, where there are stalls for petty traders, adding that it has a total of 407 kiosks.
Ms Mihambo said that the ground floor has 162 shops while the third floor is designed for food vendors.
Presenting his ministry’s budget for 2022/2023 financial year Mr Bashungwa said that through the Covid-19 relief package , his docket received 5bn/- in March this year for the improvement of areas, where the petty traders would conduct their businesses .
He named the councils which benefited from the fund with their amount in brackets as Dar es Salaam (263.13m/-), Arusha (500m/-), Mbeya (540.96m/-), Dodoma (500m/-) and Tanga (540.34m/-)
Others are Morogoro municipal councils which received (490.20m/-), Kinondoni (441.89m/-), Ubungo (398.50m/-) and Tunduma Town Council (383m/-).
“The execution of these projects are ongoing in the respective areas … the government will continue to solicit fund for the construction of petty traders’ infrastructures in other areas so that they can also benefit from the plan,” he said.
Tabling the national budget for the current fiscal year, Finance and Planning Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba said that the government will continue to identify, allocate, supervise, protect and enable small scale entrepreneurs (Machingas) as one of the key drivers of the economic growth.
“The government is doing all these efforts to implement President Samia’s intention to improve business environment,” he said.
He further said that the government will continue to identify and link them with financial institutions so that to access affordable loans, and will continue to allocate areas and construct enabling infrastructure for them to do business.
The President has pledged 10m/- for each region for strengthening petty traders’ activities including construction of their offices.
He commended allocation of 10 per cent of Local Government Authorities (LGAs) from own sources, where 5 per cent is for infrastructure and petty traders markets, 2 per cent for youth, 2 percent for women and 1 percent for the disabled.
The minister further detailed that the government has
allocated 45bn/- for infrastructures and capital provision to the petty traders, where by each region needs to have 1bn/- revolving fund for the group based on the procedures put in place.
On their part, traders have expressed gratitude to the government for constructing the market which has enabled them to operate more comfortably.
Sophia Mbwilo one of the traders said that the modern market constructed in their region is a huge step for the development of traders and the region in general.
Ms Mbwilo also said that the 10,000/- charged per month on business stalls is also fair to them because other services are also guaranteed such as water and security.
“We express our gratitude to President Samia for releasing funds for the construction of this modern market because we are now conducting our businesses in friendly environment “, said one of the small scale traders Angela Mwangeni.
She said that the government move to relocate petty traders has been beneficial to the group because, they can now operate in permanent areas without being disturbed or getting any inconveniences.
Another trader Bakari Chapwila said that before the project, traders were operating in unfriendly environment but to date they have improved their operations due to improved infrastructure.
In a meeting with Dar es Salaam Petty Traders Association leaders and regional leaders in January this year, President Samia reaffirmed her government’s commitment to re-organise them and build modern markets, so that they can operate in a friendly manner.
Construction of a new market in Jangwani, as well as the reconstruction of Karikaoo and Karume markets, are among the projects, which will allow traders to sell 24 hours a day.
“We are determined to build modern markets with government funds and acquiring soft loans from donors,” President Samia said.
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