AfricaPress-Tanzania: PEOPLE Living with Disabilities (PLWD) have paid tribute to the late President John Magufuli, eulogising him as a kind person, who worked hard to promote the welfare of marginalised groups.
Chairperson of the Kagera Regional PLWD, Sweetbert Mshanga further said Dr Magufuli will always remain in their hearts due to his compassion, love and care to them during his lifetime.
“JPM attached great attention in promoting the welfare of people living with disabilities. That is why he appointed representatives for People Living with Disabilities in higher government positions including the National Assembly. We pray to the Almighty God to rest his soul in eternal peace,” he added.
Meanwhile, students from Ihungo Secondary School have praised the late Dr Magufuli for his efforts in improving the lives of ordinary Tanzanians through key sectors including health, education and infrastructures.
One of the students, Dominick Ngole (20) in Form Six said Dr Magufuli’s regime has left a legacy that will live forever, adding: “His government implemented various programmes including free education…without Dr Magufuli, we, students from poor families would not have attended school.”
Ihungo Secondary School was on September 10th 2016 badly damaged by an earthquake amongst others and urgently rehabilitated by the government.
Earlier this year, President Magufuli commended the governments of China and the United Kingdom (UK) for supporting Tanzania in various key sectors including education, health and the infrastructure.
He showered the praise during his tour in the region, after laying a foundation stone for the construction of a Vocational Education Training Centre (VETA) at Nyakato Ward, in Bukoba Municipal Council estimated to cost over 22bn/- with support from the Government of China.
Later, he inaugurated repairing of buildings at the Ihungo Secondary School at 11.1bn/- with support from the UK, saying: “When Tanzania approached the UK after the September 10, 2016 earthquake with magnitude measuring 5.9, they responded quickly and donated a total of 6.1bn/- for the rehabilitation of the school, while the Tanzania government contributed about 4.8bn/-…a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
Elaborating, he said the friendship between Tanzania and China dates back to the days of the father of the nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and China’s former ruler, Chairman Mao.
In his address, he said the VETA once constructed would accommodate about 800 students pursuing long courses and other 1,000 students taking short courses, adding “it would enable the students realise their ambitions in making the country to be become industrialised.”
Equally, he directed regional authorities to ensure that a 10-kilometre road stretch from Bukoba Town to Bulugo village where the VETA would be built is improved to tarmac level as well as a one-kilometre road leading to Ihungo Secondary School.
