Council loans empower women businesses
GEITA: THE government has disbursed 323bn/- in interest-free council loans to 35,326 beneficiaries, including women, youth and people with disabilities, between 2021 and 2025.
Out of the total amount, 159bn/- has benefited 19,959 women across the country.
In Geita Region alone, more than 4.8bn/- has been issued to women, youth and people with disabilities through the same programme.
Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr Dorothy Gwajima, revealed this during International Women’s Day celebrations held in Geita Region.
She said the funds have enabled beneficiaries to establish businesses, create employment opportunities and increase household incomes, thereby improving livelihoods and contributing to national economic growth.
Dr Gwajima also warned government officials who hinder eligible citizens from accessing council loans, stressing that strict action would be taken against those found mismanaging the funds.
“This amount of money is not just a promise; it is money that has reached the hands of women, generated businesses, created jobs and increased family incomes,” she emphasised.
She further noted that 3.3bn/- has been spent under the 30 per cent procurement allocation for special groups, benefiting 231 entrepreneurial groups nationwide.
Dr Gwajima added that Geita Region currently has 43 women’s groups holding mining licences comprising 1,290 members, while more than 20 groups have been allocated mining blocks in the Kigosi Forest Reserve.
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Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, Prof Tumaini Nagu, said empowerment of special groups remains an ongoing government priority.
He noted that the government is committed to ensuring all eligible groups benefit from empowerment programmes aimed at promoting equality and economic participation.
Prof Nagu said initiatives such as MTAKUWWA projects and Generation Equality programmes are designed to strengthen collective efforts in economic and social development.
Meanwhile, Geita Regional Commissioner Martine Shigella said the region continues to closely supervise the implementation of council loans to ensure transparency and fairness.
He added that the supervision also aims to reduce violence, humiliation and ideological discrimination within communities.
