Tanzania to consolidate empowerment funds

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination) Ms Jenista Mhagama. File photo

What you need to know:

The funds which support women, youth, disabled and other needy groups are currently estimated at between sixteen and nineteen

Dodoma. The process, which is aimed at merging empowerment funds so as to make them have impact in society, is on progress, Parliament heard on Thursday. 

The funds, which mainly support women, youth, people with disabilities and other needy groups are currently estimated at between 16 and 19, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination), Ms Jenista Mhagama, told the National Assembly that already the government considered the proposal. 

She was responding to a supplementary question by Ms Cecilia Paresso (Special Seats-Chadema) who sought to know whether the government had plans to consolidate the empowerment funds in the country. 

"Thanks for this good question. The government has already started the process of consolidating the funds to make them deliver effectively in communities," said Ms Mhagama. 

Earlier, Mr Omar Kigoda (Handeni - CCM) wanted to know how the government was supervising the allocation of five per cent of district councils' budget to empower the youth and women. 

The Deputy Minister of State in the President's Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr Joseph Kakunda, said all local councils are currently allocating 10 per cent of their revenues for women, youth and disabled. 

According to him, Sh56.8 billion was allocated in 2016/17 and Sh17.5 billion were released. 

In 2017/18, Sh61.6 billion was allocated and by February 2018 Sh15.6 billion was released to 8,672 groups benefited from the loans. 

In 2018/19, Sh53.8 billion has been allocated for the same purpose.