Eyes on projects completion, increased production

THE National Development Plan 2024/25 will prioritise the completion of strategic development projects and poverty alleviation, the government said on Monday.

The Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Professor Kitila Mkumbo, said the focus will be on stimulating the pace of inclusive economic growth that reduces poverty and brings prosperity to all.

Presenting the government’s recommendations for the National Development Plan 2024/2025 in Dodoma on Monday, Prof Mkumbo said that in achieving the plan, efforts will be made to increase production, generate abundant job opportunities and stimulate the export of value added products.

He said other targets in clude adding value to crops in the agriculture, livestock, fishing, forestry and mining sectors, as well as improving the quality of education and training at all levels in the country.

“We will also increase and strengthen the use of technology, especially Information and Communication Technology (ICT), increase industrial production, and strengthen the best community services for all, including health services and access to clean and safe water for all,” Prof Mkumbo said.

According to Prof Mkumbo, priority will be given to the completion of ongoing development programs and projects, especially those in the final stages of completion as outlined in the five main priority areas of the Third Five-Year National Development Plan (2021/22 – 2025/26).

“The new projects that will be implemented in 2024/25 will increase the speed of economic growth, provide short-term results, reduce poverty, and increase the government’s income, especially foreign currency,” he noted.

Prof Mkumbo also said that the government will analyse the 17 projects in the National Five Year Development (FYDP III 2021/22 – 2025/26) and choose the projects that can be implemented and completed in the remaining time of the plan, with the aim of accelerating the achievement of objectives and indicators of success in the plan.

“In this period, the government will continue to coordinate and manage the preparation process of the (new) National Development Vision 2050,” he added.

He said that the goals and targets of the plan in the general economy include increasing the growth rate of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to reach 5.4 per cent in 2024 from the expected growth of 5.2 per cent in 2023.

He said another goal is to continue to control the rate of inflation and ensure that it remains in the range of a single digit, with an average of 3.0 – 7.0 per cent in the medium term.

He also said that the plan aims to ensure domestic revenue reaches 15.7 percent of national GDP in 2024/25, compared to the expectation of 15.3 per cent in 2023/24, and tax revenue to reach 12.8 percent of the national GDP in 2024/25, from the expectation of 12.5 per cent in 2023/24.

“Also, the budget deficit (including aids) to be 2.9 per cent of the national GDP in 2024/25, from the expectation of 2.8 per cent in 2023/24, and to have foreign currency reserves to meet the needs of importing goods and services from abroad for a period of not less than four months,” he added.

Moreover, Prof Mkumbo said that 10 national pillars will be considered in the National Development Plan 2024/25, including the sustaining of peace, security, and stability within the country, in neighbouring countries, and in the world as a whole.

He said other pillars include strengthening the economy and the stability of prices in financial and commodity markets, continuing to maintain good governance and the rule of law in the country, and continuing to improve food sufficiency in the country.

“Also, to continue to cope with the effects of climate change and natural and non-natural disasters, including drought, war, epidemics, and floods, and to have sufficient and better human resources that meet the needs of the technology and creativity world,” he added.

On the other hand, he said that the government’s recommendations for the National Development Plan 2024/2025 have been based on national, regional, and international development guidelines and strategies, including the National Development Vision 2025 and FYDP III 2021/22 – 2025/26.

He said that the plan’s recommendations are also based on the CCM general election manifesto 2020, African Development Agenda 2063, East African Community (EAC) Development Vision 2050, Sustainable Development Goals 2030, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Vision 2050, and the results of the evaluation of the implementation of the National Development Vision 2025.

“These recommendations have also been fully based on the opinion and advice of Members of Parliament (MPs) that they delivered during the discussion  of development plan direction  in the 13th parliament meeting held in November 2023,” he added.