Rukwa set for takeoff

• Samia promises to unlock the region’s potential

RUKWA: CCM presidential candidate, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan has pledged to transform Rukwa Region into a major economic and transport hub connecting Tanzania with neighbouring countries through strategic infrastructure investments.

Addressing a campaign rally at Kizwite grounds in Sumbawanga yesterday, Dr Samia outlined her vision to boost agriculture, mining, trade and logistics by expanding roads, ports and energy infrastructure in the region.

Dr Samia said that, if re-elected, the CCM government will complete key road projects, upgrade Kasanga Port and improve electricity and water infrastructure to position Rukwa as a gateway for cross-border trade.

“We will continue to invest in strategic infrastructure to open up Rukwa and connect it to neighbouring countries of Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and Rwanda,” she said.

“This will unlock trade opportunities, create jobs and improve lives.”

She added that the government plans to construct the 189-kilometre Kibaoni–Majimoto– Muze–Kilyamatundu road and the 50-km Matai–Kasesya road, build a new bus terminal at Laela and improve access roads to Kasanga Port.

Dr Samia reaffirmed her commitment to expand irrigation schemes, warehouse capacity and food processing to add value to produce and boost farmer incomes.

“We want to move from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture,” she said.

“This means expanding irrigation, improving inputs and ensuring farmers can sell their crops at good prices.”

She directed the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture to explore increasing maize purchases, following a bumper harvest that exceeded the initial budget for procurement.

“We’ve supplied fertilisers and improved extension services. Farmers responded with increased production. Now we must store and sell the surplus, even abroad, to increase their incomes,” she said.

The next phase of her administration, she added, will prioritise reaching five million hectares under irrigation by 2030 to guarantee national and regional food security.

Dr Samia highlighted major strides in water and electricity, noting that all villages in Rukwa are now electrified, with plans to connect the remaining hamlets by 2027.

On clean water access, she said the government is drawing water from Lake Tanganyika to expand the national water grid.

“Our target is for every Tanzanian to have access to safe, clean water,” she declared.

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In education and health, the CCM government will continue free education, hire more teachers and health workers and expand access to essential social services.

Dr Samia said Rukwa’s untapped mineral wealth including coal, copper, emeralds and gold offers great potential for industrialisation.

“We already have six mineral-buying centres and ten investors in talks to open new operations,” she said.

“We’re also exploring a copper-processing plant to boost local value addition and jobs.” She emphasised empowering youth and small-scale miners to benefit from the sector, noting that local industrial clusters will be expanded to process agricultural and mineral products.

Dr Samia confirmed that the government is finalising preparations to complete the new Rukwa Airport, which will accommodate larger aircraft and support tourism growth.

“Rukwa has unique natural beauty and tourism potential. We want to put it on Tanzania’s tourism map and ensure local communities’ benefit,” she said.

Former Prime Minister and CCM Western Zone Campaign Coordinator, Mr Mizengo Pinda praised Rukwa’s transformation under CCM leadership, calling it a dramatic shift from isolation to opportunity.

“Rukwa was once one of the most disconnected regions. Today, we can travel smoothly from Tunduma to Sumbawanga thanks to tarmac roads,” he said.

“It is now the second-largest food-producing region in the country.”

He urged MPs and councillors to unite in driving development.

“Let’s work across party lines for the common good,” he added.

Rukwa Special Seats candidate, Ms Sylvia Sigula lauded Dr Samia for raising the maize purchasing price from 550/- to 700/- per kilo, saying it has motivated farmers to boost production.

“You’ve also delivered 99 per cent of the ‘Kumtua Mama Ndoo Kichwani’ agenda in Sumbawanga town,” she said, referring to the government’s success in expanding water access.

Sumbawanga Urban parliamentary candidate Aeshi Hilaly announced that 61bn/- has been allocated for the new airport and 2.5bn/- for a water dam to end shortages.

He added that an international crop market now 80 per cent complete, will boost trade with neighbouring countries.