CCM targets social uplift

MANYARA: CCM presidential candidate Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan has said her government will ensure every resident gets access to clean water, health facilities, electricity and education if re-elected, pledging to accelerate delivery of social services in Manyara Region.

Addressing a campaign rally yesterday at Old Bus Stand in Babati District, Dr Samia said that while Manyara’s economy is built on tourism, agriculture, livestock, trade and mining, the govern- ment has deliberately priori- tised social sectors over the past five years to uplift communities.

“In the coming term, we will intensify efforts so that every family in Manyara benefits from clean water, health care, electricity and education. No one will be left behind,” she assured.

She said that more than 700bn/- had already been channelled to development projects in the region during her four years in office.

Dr Samia said the CCM government, if re-elected, will also continue expanding tourism as the region’s leading economic driver. She reported that visitors to Tarangire and Lake Manyara had reached 1.65 million in five years, boosting jobs and income for residents.

“In the next five years, we will step up promotion and investment in attractions so that we reach the national goal of eight million visitors by 2030,” she said.

She acknowledged the ongoing challenges related to conservation, including disputes between Mkungunero Game Reserve and nearby communities in Simanjiro and Kiteto. However, she pledged that the government would support affected residents by providing access to water services and designated work areas.

“We know the challenge of dangerous animals invading homesteads. Already elephants are being monitored with tracking devices and drones, and we will continue strengthening protection,”she said.

The presidential candidate further said the government had ordered special equipment to remove weeds choking Babati Lake and other lakes in the nation, promising four fishing boats, three for production and one for security, to boost local livelihoods.

On agriculture, Dr Samia reaffirmed her commitment to making Hanang District a key contributor to national food security by delivering one million tonnes of wheat by 2030.

She pledged continued support through subsidies for fertiliser and modern farming inputs, along with the development of irrigation infrastructure such as the Mbulu Dam and the Isakangwale Project.

“We cannot afford idle estates while we are still importing wheat. Every farm must be productive,” she emphasised.

Addressing the livestock sector, she highlighted the introduction of five new dipping facilities, three abattoirs and subsidized vaccinations, measures aimed at unlocking access to export markets.

“We have succeeded in securing markets, but our cattle needed proper vaccination records. That’s why we subsidized vaccinations and introduced livestock identification systems,” Dr Samia explained.

She added that livestock auctions in Katesh, Pasodesh and Endagau had been upgraded to support the sector’s growth.

On mining, Dr Samia hailed the establishment of the Tanzanite Exchange Centre in Mererani, noting that it had already hosted successful auctions and elevated the international profile of Tanzanian gemstones.

She pledged to continue promoting value addition in the minerals sector and announced plans to reclaim idle mining licences from non-performing investors, reallocating them to smallscale miners.

“Our priority is to empower small miners, because that’s where jobs for young people will come from,” she emphasised.

Parliamentary candidates also addressed the rally. Special Seats legislative candidate Regina Ndege said over 700bn/- had been invested in regional development projects, including classrooms rising from 4,654 in 2020 to 6,020 today.

She said dialysis services, once accessible only in Dodoma or Moshi, were now available in Manyara.

Kiteto parliamentary candidate, Edward Ole Lekaita said 217 groups of women, youth and people with disabilities had benefitted from the 10 per cent loan scheme, but requested more dams for farmers and herders and safe drinking water projects.

Simanjiro parliamentary candidate James Millya asked Dr Samia to establish boarding schools for pastoralist children, who often walk up to 15 kilometres to attend classes.

“For a herder’s child,this is a heavy burden. We request at least two model boarding schools to start with,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude to Dr Samia for the Ruvu River project, which now supplies water to Simanjiro, marking the first such achievement since independence.

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Dr Samia said the strides made in social services and other key economic sectors gave her the confidence to seek another term in office.

“We have laid a strong foundation and now we are asking for your votes so we can continue building upon it,” she told the rally.