Africa-Press – Tanzania. LOOKING to end land disputes in the country, the government has dished out 50bn/- interest free- loan for 55 district and municipal councils countrywide for land planning, surveying and formalization.
The Finance and Planning Ministry will issue the loans through the Ministry of Land, Housing and Human Settlement Development which will channel them to the Regional Administration and Local Government for disbursement.
The three ministries have already signed loan disbursement agreements whereas the councils have been tasked to undertake the planning, surveying and formalization of settlements.
Speaking during the event held here on Wednesday, Finance and Planning Minister, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba said the programme is continuous and it starts with 55 councils and when the revolving loan is repaid it will provide an opportunity for other councils to borrow.
The Minister urged the councils that have benefited from the loan to make timely repayments to allow other councils to also use the monies for the intended objective.
Moreover, Dr Nchemba called upon those who are responsible for the implementation of the projects to fully monitor the use of funds.
“It is my hope that these 55 councils that have been given the loan in the first phase will be a role model,” he said.
On his part, the Minister for Land, Housing and Human Settlement Development, Mr William Lukuvi, said the project is important in ending land disputes, adding value to the land and empowering people economically.
Minister Lukuvi commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for providing the 50bn/-funds, noting that the decision shows her commitment to ensure proper land management for economic advancement.
“With this plan, land disputes will be reduced because each landowner will have his land surveyed and will be responsible for protecting it,” he said.
He added that the owners will also be provided with title deeds that will help them to be empowered economically.
Minister Lukuvi added that the assessed land-owner will use the document as collateral, thus being used as capital by accessing financial services.
Mr Lukuvi instructed the councils that have been given the money to go and use it to pay compensation for public places to end land disputes instead of generating new conflicts.
He further said that by implementing the plan, the scams and evils of looting people’s land will end as they will have to pay them first before they can start surveying those areas.
Lukuvi said, by getting the 50bn loans the councils will generate 41.7m/- and 212,892 new taxpayers who will be paying taxes for 99 years.
The minister urged members of Parliament through the Natural Resources and Tourism and Local Government committee to make follow-up of the projects and ensure that areas like schools, markets and health facilities are given priority.
The Minister of State in the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, said the directors of 55 councils will spend the money on planning and allocation of plots.
Ms Ummy said the councils that received the money should make sure that the projects are executed as intended to allow other councils to benefit.
Minister Ummy said the issue of planning, surveying, formalization and land management is the number five priority behind health, education, citizen empowerment and better infrastructure.
She added that the 78 councils applied for the fund, and 55 council’s equivalents to 29 per cent of all 184 councils received the facility, directing for proper spending.
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