Africa-Press – Tanzania. VICE-PRESIDENT Mpango has expressed the government’s commitment to enhancing social services for citizens, including improvements in water supply, education, healthcare and infrastructure to support economic activities.
He directed the Ministry of Water to speed up distribution of water from Lake Victoria, to address the long-standing water shortages faced by the citizens.
The Vice- President made this statement after laying the foundation stone for the Bukene Water project, which costs 29.3bn/-, during an event held in Uduka Village, Nzega District, as part of his tour in Tabora Region.
He commended the Ministry of Water for its significant efforts in ensuring that areas facing water challenges are reached, particularly by utilising the water source from Lake Victoria.
During the event, Dr Mpango encouraged the people of Tabora to increase their efforts in environmental conservation to combat climate change.
He urged the Tanzania Forestry Services (TFS) to ensure that seedlings are available to enable citizens to plant trees as the rainy season approaches.
The Vice-President emphasized the need for leaders to spearhead tree planting initiatives and for citizens to plant trees in their areas, including shade and fruit trees.
Additionally, the Vice-President highlighted the importance of campaigns to encourage students to plant and take care of a tree during their school years, teaching them the significance of environmental preservation.
He also urged the citizens of Bukene to participate peacefully in the 2024 Local Government Election and the 2025 General Election.
The Bukene water project is expected to benefit 85,607 residents, featuring a network of 193.5 kilometres of pipes with 91 planned water collection points.
In another initiative, the Vice-President laid the foundation stone for a Wastewater Treatment Ponds project located in the Uchama area of Nzega District, which costs 1.5bn/- and is expected to last over 20 years.
The Vice President stressed that this project should be utilized for irrigation agriculture to maximize benefits and ensure that the water is not wasted.
The Vice-President also addressed the residents of Nzega Town at the market ground, emphasizing that small scale traders in the market will be prioritized for stalls after the construction of a modern market.
Earlier, addressing residents of Igunga District during the first day of his four-day tour of Tabora Region, Dr Mpango commended the residents of the district for their hard work and for being significant producers of food and livestock.
The VP directed the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments (PO-RALG) to prioritise the construction of a modern market and a bus terminal in Igunga in response to the expressed needs of the citizens.
Dr Mpango also highlighted the shortage of staff in various sectors within the district, urging PO-RALG to focus on the issue during the staffing planning process.
Moreover, he encouraged parents to ensure that children prioritise their education over participation in mining activities, emphasising the importance of schooling for their future.
The Vice-President urged local leaders, particularly parliamentarians to continue raising awareness about the use of gas cylinders among citizens to promote the use of clean cooking energy, which aims to protect the environment and improve public health.
On the other hand, the Vice-President encouraged the people of Igunga District to actively participate in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for next month (November 27), stressing the importance of selecting capable leaders who will collaborate with the community in development efforts.
On his part, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Hussein Bashe assured the citizens that the government will continue to protect farmers by establishing a warehouse receipt system for crops grown in the district and other areas, including leguminous crops such as cowpeas, chickpeas and lentils.
He said that the goal of the system is to eliminate middlemen who buy crops at prices lower than market value.
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