THE PACE at which the government is implementing various development projects and improving social services has impressed the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi.
The party’s Central Committee (CC) has commended both Union and Zanzibar governments for effectively continuing to implement the 2020-2025 election manifesto through a number of strategic projects.
The Central Committee (CC)’s extra ordinary meeting headed by CCM National Chairperson President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the Chamwino State House in Dodoma on Thursday also applauded the two governments on the way they handle and serve with action the public, including responding to people’s needs, hence improving socioeconomic welfare of Tanzanians.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the CCM Secretary of Ideology and Publicity, Ms Sophia Mjema said the committee members were impressed by the performance of Union government under the leadership of President Dr Samia and that of Zanzibar under President Dr Hussein Mwinyi.
CCM has always expressed determination to continue supervising the government in implementing its 2020/2025 election manifesto by ensuring all the projects are executed effectively.
The ruling party is also dedicated to ensure effective accountability among members of the civil service in local and central governments for proper delivery of social services to the public.
According to the manifesto, the country’s development of social services is amongst key priorities which entail strengthening access to quality health, education and water, electricity and housing services in rural and urban areas.
Among others, the manifesto targets to accelerate the supply of clean and safe water to meet the needs of more than 85 per cent in rural areas and more than 95 per cent in urban areas in mainland Tanzania by 2025 and more than 95 per cent in Zanzibar during the same period.
Speaking recently, Director General for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) Engineer Clement Kivegalo said that the number of villages with access to water service has raised to 9,029 by June 2022, compared to June 2019, whereby the number of villages that had access to water services stood at 6,082.
“Currently, as I speak …the water service in rural areas is available through 143,767 water collection points and 169,043 household connections,” he said.
“Out of 1,258 projects developed after RUWASA was established in July 2019 to June 2022, at least 604 projects have been completed and are now benefiting approximately 1,673 villages with about 2,820,180 villagers, while the cost of completed project stands at 260.4bn/-.” RUWASA DG said.
Additionally, the CCM manifesto set benchmarks of ensuring all streets and villages are connected to electricity by 2025.
In an interview with journalists recently, Rural Energy Agency (REA) Director General Eng Hassan Said noted that despite the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia -Ukraine war, the agency is committed to realise its target.
CCM’s 2020-2025 election manifesto unveiled that in the next five years; the government must strengthen the energy sector by ensuring the country produces enough electricity for the industrial economy and the external market.
To achieve this goal, CCM has directed the government to complete supplying electricity in all rural areas and peri-urban areas of the Tanzania mainland through Rural Energy Master Plan.
Moreover, REA DG said they expect to complete connecting power to all villages by 100 per cent in the country even before 2030.
According to him, REA has connected electricity to approximately 27,000 hamlets so far out of 67,000 across the country, adding that it has already prepared a five-year plan that will cost a total of 6.5 tri/- to reach all hamlets across the country.
The manifesto also seeks to attain provision of universal health care to all citizens and stimulating the use of research, science, technology and innovation as a tool for rapid socio-economic development through expansion of school infrastructures.
On implementation of mega projects, the government performance has also been impressive. When gracing an occasion to allow water to flow into the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (JNHPP) Dam, President Samia said execution of mega projects has been her government’s key performance indicators (KPIs).
Apart from the 2,115 MW JNHPP, other strategic ventures that received a lion’s share of the government’s development budget and new push for their speedy execution included the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line, the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant as well as education, health and water projects.
Other mega projects whose implementation is impressive touch on roads and bridges, including some flyovers in Dar es Salaam and the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge in Mwanza.
The year 2022 was recorded as the year when the government and foreign investors signed several critical agreements in the development of Tanzania’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project which has been termed as a ‘massive, strategic and special’ one largely due to its capital intensity nature and the anticipated revenue.
Meanwhile, the committee has also endorsed the appointment of Ms Bahati Ndingo as a party flag bearer in Mbarali constituency’s by-election to be held next month.
The election will be held to fill the vacant post, following the death of Mr Francis Mtega on 1st July this year.
