JK not pleased with current pace in alleviating poverty
President Jakaya Kikwete admire coffee during when he visited a farm owned by an Israeli investor at Lipokela Village in Songea Rural District, Ruvuma Region, yesterday. PHOTO|JOYCE JOLIGA
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He gave an example of Kenya where according to him, a unit of electricity cost 18 cents, and that in Uganda it was 18.5 while in Rwanda the cost stood at 23 cents in US dollars.
Ruvuma. President Jakaya Kikwete has directed government institutions to increase pace in reducing poverty in the country insisting that for a long time people have been living in poor conditions. The President said people have greater expectations from their leaders in ensuring that poverty was kicked out of their families. Mr Kikwete gave the directives on Sunday when he visited Lipokela Village in Songea District, Ruvuma Region.
“We cannot let our people stay in abject poverty for another 30 years simply because we are unable to help our farmers so that they can boost their income,’’he said during his ongoing tour of the region.
Addressing a rally in Mbinga District, President Kikwete said the government would do everything possible to ensure that electricity tariff remains low to make it affordable to all.
He said of all the East African countries, electricity charges in Tanzania were the lowest compared to other countries in the region.
He gave an example of Kenya where according to him, a unit of electricity cost 18 cents, and that in Uganda it was 18.5 while in Rwanda the cost stood at 23 cents in US dollars.
Mr Kikwete, who was flanked by Energy and Minerals minister Sospeter Muhongo, said although Tanzania was doing relatively well on electricity cost, the government was seriously looking on means that would see electricity charges remain low. During his tour, the president received a progress report on the ongoing construction of a 78-kilometre Songea-Mbinga road that will be accomplished at a cost of $64.3 million (about Sh102.8 billion) through Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Millennium Challenge Account Tanzania (MCA-T).
President Kikwete later officiated an opening ceremony of a secondary school for girls at Kisongera Ward in Mbinga District. The school is teaching only science subjects.
At a public rally, Works minister John Magufuli said the government was finalising the construction of the main roads of the Mtwara corridor, some 823 kilometres from Mtwara town to Mbamba bay in Ruvuma.
“The construction of these roads is among our development projects and this is not a political matter but we are doing this because the only political party that can develop this nation is the ruling CCM,’’ said Dr Magufuli after President Kikwete launched the 78-kilometer road from Songea to Mbinga town.
