DC stresses peace as foundation for national development
MOROGORO: MOROGORO District Commissioner, Mr Mussa Kilakala has urged Tanzanians to safeguard the peace and stability of the nation, saying that without peace, essential development activities, both personal and national cannot progress.
Mr Kilakala made the remarks while opening the Morogoro Regional Trade Fair (MRTFE), organised by the government in collaboration with the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA).
The fair, which brings together government institutions, public organisations, NGOs, and private-sector exhibitors, began on November 20 and will conclude on Sunday at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro.
Representing the Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Adam Malima, DC Kilakala stressed that citizens must prioritise the preservation of peace, describing it as the backbone of sustainable national development.
“Peace must be strengthened at all times. Without it, trade fairs like this, which stimulate growth among entrepreneurs in the region and across the country would not be possible. This would ultimately weaken both individual and national economic progress,” he said.
TCCIA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oscar Kisanga, used the occasion to encourage businesspeople to join the chamber to access a wider range of opportunities, including markets, loan facilitation, and connections to international trade platforms.
Mr Kisanga revealed that TCCIA is in the process of finalising cooperation agreements within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that by 2030, Tanzanians are expected to begin benefiting from the continental market.
He urged entrepreneurs to produce goods that meet African market standards, highlighting that the bloc will offer access to over 1.4 billion consumers.
Meanwhile, Senior Education and Communication Officer at the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) in Morogoro, Ms Immaculate Chaggu, said there has been a significant increase in tax compliance among business owners.
She noted that improved compliance has enabled the region to surpass its 2025 revenue collection target by more than 100 per cent.
“Every Thursday, TRA provides tax education to customers. This year, we exceeded our target by collecting more than 100 per cent of projected revenue, and we continue to encourage voluntary tax payment,” Ms Chaggu said.
On her part, Mema Kabaiza, an Implementation Officer from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in Morogoro, urged entrepreneurs to enrol in the fund to benefit from services such as retirement pensions and medical coverage, critical in mitigating the rising costs of healthcare.
