Zanzibar’s poor communities pocket Sh30 billion in Tasaf funds’ grants

Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service and Good Governance), Ms Mary Mwanjelwa. Photo |Edwin Mjwahuzi

Dodoma. Poor communities in Zanzibar have pocketed a total of Sh28.2 billion in grants and soft loans through various Tanzania Social Action Fund (Tasaf) programmes, the government said on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

The Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service and Good Governance), Ms Mary Mwanjelwa, told the Parliament that the money was disbursed between 2016 and 2019 through several initiatives under the Tasaf programme.

Ms Mwanjelwa was responding to a question from Ms Fakharia Shomar Khamis (Special Seats - CCM) who sought to know how much has Zanzibar benefitted from Tasaf projects since the programme was initiated.

Out of the money, Sh4.3 billion was issued in form of wages to poor communities who benefitted from the creation of short term jobs through Tasaf in Unguja while another Sh3.9 billion was issued in the same manner to Pemba residents.

She said a total of Sh28.6 billion was disbursed as primary and conditional grants to a total of 32,154 poor households.