Mtwara RC wants increased allocation, supervision of project funds

Mtwara. Mtwara Regional Commissioner (RC), Colonel Ahmed Abass, has urged executives in the Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to allocate funds from internal revenue for implementation of development projects instead of waiting for funds from the Central Government.

The RC also directed leaders and those involved in decision making to properly supervise implementation of the projects in their respective areas of jurisdictions.

Colonel Abass made the remarks during a recent meeting of the Regional Consultative Committee, (RCC).

He said in the past there were challenges on citizens’ reluctance to participate in the implementation of projects triggering conflicts in different places.

"Responsible leaders including councillors should oversee funds disbursed in their respective areas for implementation of development projects in order to realise the project’s value for money,” he said.

In the 2023/24 Fiscal Year, Mtwara Region is expecting to spend Sh261.2 billion for recurrent expenditures and implementation of development projects.

The funds include grants from the central government and internal revenue from LGAs.

The funds breakdown shows that Sh11.5 billion would be allocated for the regional secretariat, Sh2.8 billion for the payments of salaries, Sh4.1 billion for the Other Charges (OC), while Sh4.5 billion would be utilised for implementation of development projects.

Additionally, Sh249.707 billion would be utilised by LGAs; Sh135 billion for salaries, Sh32.7 billion for OC and Sh81.8 billion for execution of development projects.

Speaking in Masasi District, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said during her recent maiden tour of the region that District Executive Directors (DEDs) had to allocate funds from internal collections for implementation of development projects.

The Head of State was responding to Ndanda Constituency legislator Cecil Mwambe’s concern that the council was facing the challenge of funds for construction of a building where an X-ray machine could be installed.

Mtwara Region internal revenue is driven by various sources, including cashew nut, sesame, and peas trading.

According to the RC, the region sold 17,000 metric tonnes of sesame worth Sh66.7 billion in the 2022/23 season out of which farmers received Sh63.4 billion and that Sh3.3 billion was paid to other stakeholders and institutions.

Peas that was for the first time included in the Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) attracted Sh35.6 billion from the trading of 17,000 metric tonnes.

Farmers garnered Sh34.15 billion, while the remaining Sh1.45 billion went to other agriculture stakeholders.

In the 2023/24 cashews trading season, the region targeted to trade 165,000 metric tonnes out of the country’s anticipation to produce 400,000 tonnes.