Dodoma. The Minister for Agriculture, Dr Charles Tizeba, has called on Members of Parliament forming the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation to scrutinize projects under his ministry and advice accordingly.
Dr Tizeba said this in Dodoma yesterday while bidding farewell to members of the committee who were about to start their tour of Njombe and Iringa regions to inspect different projects in the Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (Sagcot).
Dr Tizeba asked the lawmakers to inspect projects being implemented under the partnership between the government and Sagcot partners thoroughly.
“I call upon you to go there with your two eyes wide open, one eye should be curious to observe and learn, the other should be critical. Don’t look on positive things alone, look at the shortfalls too because we cannot see our mistakes,” he said.
Dr Tizeba added that the committee members in question were a mirror upon which his ministry sees its reflection, adding that their tour was crucial because it would help the ministry understand where things are not moving in the right direction. He assure the committee over the government’s commitment to collaborate with them in ensuring that the agricultural sector grows from strength to strength. The minister regretted that he could not join the MPs in the tour as he was supposed to visit cotton growers to solve challenges related to the cash crop trade.
“I wanted to join you, but we have a problem facing cotton growers, cotton has a challenge related to selling and buying, I am going to meet farmers and see how we can find a solution,” he said.
Dr Tizeba called on his deputy, Dr Mary Mwanjelwa, and the entire team from the ministry who would accompany the MPs to listen more and give freedom to MPs to learn and ask questions.
“I would like to request the deputy minister and the entire team from the ministry to listen more, because your part of the project implementers, give MPs the room to observe and discuss. Afterwards the MPs will give us feedback and advice based on what they will see,” he directed.
The Committee Chairman, Mr Mahmoud Mgimwa who is also an MP for Mufindi North Constituency thanked the ministry for having coordinated the tour.
