Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has reaffirmed its commitment to end extreme poverty for all Tanzanians through interventions coordinated by the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF).
The Minister of State, President’s Office, Public Services Management and Good Governance, Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, disclosed this when the World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnership Ms Mari Pangestu visited activities of TASAF beneficiaries in Temeke Municipality, on Tuesday.
Mr Mchengerwa revealed that since independence, Tanzania has had a series of interventions to fight its three worst enemies which are poverty, ignorance and diseases.
“Through the national poverty alleviation schemes positive progress has been achieved in the fight against poverty in the country…the goal of the government is to completely eradicate poverty in the country through TASAF supported programmes which the WB has been extending its hand,” said Mr Mchengerwa.
According to him, TASAF has not only improved individual incomes but rather boosted the entire economy of the country, noting that through the three implemented phases social services have improved and human capital has strengthened.
Similarly, the programme has increased impetus of development, as it considered the most marginalised households by improving their levels of expenditures in basic items and increasing clinic attendance for the mothers and young children.
Equally, the interventions have increased school attendance and now the majority have enrolled into higher learning institutions – something that was not happening earlier.
Minister Mchengerwa noted that the beneficiaries have also improved their homes with modern houses, created more assets of their sizes and improved their livelihoods with engagement in productive aspects.
He expressed the government commitment in collaborating with the World Bank in its efforts to reduce poverty.
He, however, maintained that TASAF will remain one of the tools to uplift the poorest Tanzanians from the menace of poverty.
On her part, Ms Pangestu commended government efforts for properly coordinating the programme, which has enabled the country to reduce extreme poverty by 2 per cent.
“I am aware that at least 80 per cent of the beneficiaries are women…what is important is that the program is not only fighting poverty but also ignorance and disease.
“This can be witnessed through the tremendous strides achieved in the enrollment of children in schools from primary to higher level of education, children can access health services and infrastructure improvement,” said Ms Pangestu.
She pointed out that the current interventions have mainly focused on entrepreneurship, more capital and financial literacy.
“We are confident that through the programmes, the lives of the people and those of the families will be improved,” she maintained.
The WB Director also reaffirmed their commitment to continue working with the government through TASAF for more improved lives of the people in Tanzania.
TASAF Executive Director, Mr Ladislaus Mwamanga, noted that 16 poor households out of 61 households in Temeke Municipality have graduated from the programme.
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