AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Ministry of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), yesterday requested Parliament to approve 7.01tri/- budget, of which 33 percent will be channeled towards bankrolling over 20 major projects in the coming 2020/21 fiscal year.
State Minister in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr Selemani Jafo highlighted various crucial projects in the health, education, infrastructure and administration sectors on which more than 2.3trl/- has been allocated for the purpose.
Mr Jafo requested the August House to approve the budget, noting 4.7tri/- is for recurrent expenditure on which 3.7trl/- is for paying salaries and 851.14bn/- is for other charges (OC).
He said 2.3trl/- will finance development projects and that out of the amount 1.29trl/- would be obtained from local sources while the remaining 992bn/- will be collected from external sources.
The budget has increased by 9bn/- from 6.2tri/- of 2019/20 fiscal year to 7.01tri/- in the coming 2020/21 fiscal year.
Mr Jafo said the government was planning to implement various projects in different sectors with the intention to speed up development and improve wananchi’s welfare.
The government intends to implement major five health projects, according to Mr Jafo, saying it has allocated 32.50bn/- for the construction of three wards to each of 67 district council’s hospitals across the country.
He said the new wards will help to decongest hospitals and improve health services.
He added that 27bn/- has been allocated for the construction of 27 councils’ hospitals in various parts of the country.
The hospitals are constructed in Karatu, Chalinze and Kondoa districts. Others are in Kongwa, Mbogwe, Biharamulo, Nsimbo, Kigoma, Kakonko, Liwale, Serengeti, Sengerema, Mbeya, Kilombero, Kaliua, Babati, Mvomero, Newala, Madaba, Kwimba, Msalala, Ikungi, Handeni and Mkinga districts.
He added that other hospitals are constructed on Tunduma town council as well as in Sumbawanga and Tabora municipal councils.
Moreover, the minister said another 27.75bn/- has been allocated for finalizing the construction of 3 dispensaries to each district council across the country.
A total of 32.50bn/- has been allocated for the purchase of medical appliances in all 67 district hospitals, said Mr Jafo.
The purpose is to enable all district hospitals to offer quality and reliable health services by using modern equipment, he said.
Seeking to strengthen primary health care for results, the government has allocated 129bn/- for finalizing health centres, capacity building among health officers and supervision of various projects.
Financing education
The minister said the government has highlighted five main areas to focus on in the 2020/21 fiscal year.
He said 298.13bn/- has been allocated to ensure provision of free education for all in the country. According to Mr Jafo the budget for free education is up by 9.6bn/- compared to 288.48bn/- of the 2019/20 financial year.
He said 137.63bn/- has been allocated for secondary free education and 160.49bn/- is budgeted for free primary education.
The government has also allocated 26.10bn/- for the construction of classrooms at 184 primary schools across the country.
Mr Jafo added that in promoting science subjects, a total of 42.33bn/- has been allocated for the construction of 1,411 laboratories in various secondary schools that are found in 184 councils.
Moreover, 73.6bn/- has been allocated for boosting the Education Programme for Results (EP4R) in both primary and secondary schools in 184 councils.
On the Literacy and Numeracy Education Support (LANES), the minister said 9.34bn/- has been allocated for the construction of 150 classrooms for basic education and building capacity for teachers as well as for purchasing Information Technology equipment.
Developing infrastructure
Five crucial areas of concentration have been earmarked in the 2020/21 fiscal year budget as part of strategic infrastructure development for the country’s envisaged economic growth.
He said a total of 275.03bn/- has been allocated for the construction and renovation of 23,531 km roads, 80 bridges, 2,052 culverts and water drainage systems with 79.9km length. He said the budget will be released under the Road Fund.
On Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (DMDP), the Minister said 186.8bn/- has been placed for the construction of 70km of roads in Dar es Salaam City at tarmac level.
Moreover, in the next financial year, the government will continue with the implementation of the agric-connect programme, on which 35.5bn/- has been allocated for the purpose. He added that 28bn/- has been allocated for starting the construction of Road to Inclusion and Social-Economic Opportunities (RISE).
The minister informed the parliament that the government also intends to start the implementation of the project for the Tanzania Cities Transforming Infrastructure and Competitiveness Project (TACTIC) in 45 councils in various cities, municipal councils and town councils.
On administration
The minister said 49.29bn/- has been allocated for the renovation and construction of administration buildings across the country. He said another 80.42bn/- has been allocated for the construction of buildings in 100 councils.
He added that 1.35bn/- has been set aside for the construction of district directors and heads of departments offices in nine district councils.
New vehicles
According to Mr Jafo, a total of 54 vehicles will be purchased in the 2020/21 fiscal year. He said 16 vehicles will be purchased for Regional Commissioners (RCs), Regional Administrative Secretaries (RAS) and District Administrative Secretaries (DAS).
He said 4.48bn/- has been set aside for the purpose. Moreover, another 8.36bn/- has been set aside for purchasing 38 brand new vehicles.
Empowerment
The minister said 50bn/- has been set aside for 16 councils. He added that another 64.46bn/- has been allocated for supporting women, youth and people with disabilities across the country. He said 25.78bn/- is for women loans, 12.89bn/- for people with disabilities while the remaining is for youth.
Teachers Service Commission
The minister said 500m/- has been set aside for teachers’ service commission (TSC). TSC is an independent government commission established to manage human resources within the education sector.
