Govt to uplift school venues

TABORA: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has said that the government is committed to implementing a plan to enhance sports infrastructure in 56 selected schools to nurture sports talent in the country.

Prime Minister Majaliwa stated that to guarantee the achievement of the objective, 4bn/- was set aside in March of this year to upgrade the facilities in 26 secondary schools.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Saturday while inaugurating the Inter Primary (UMITASHUMTA) and Secondary Schools (UMISSETA) Games at Ali Hassan Mwinyi in Tabora, representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

He also took the opportunity to appreciate President Samia’s dedicated efforts to promote physical education and sports in primary and secondary schools across the country.

Additionally, he said the government is committed to providing funding for sports programmes in primary and secondary education, as it believes that engagement in sports helps students enhance their cognitive abilities and perform well in both academics and athletics.

“This is the reason for the presence of these UMITASHUMTA and UMISSETA games which help bring out the talents of sportsmen and women who will be able to play various sports at the national and international levels.

“Sports have a lot to offer us in life. First and foremost, sports promote good physical and mental health, mental tranquillity, financial gain, and increased popularity. He advised parents and guardians to encourage their kids to participate in sports art rather than telling them not to.

ALSO READ: National U-18 girls, youths’ training camps please TBF

“On the part of parents and guardians, ensure and encourage the participation of children in sports or art so that they do not separate themselves from the opportunities available in today’s world.”

According to the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mohamed Mchengerwa, 805 instructors and leaders from Tanzania’s mainland and islands, along with 3,188 athletes, participated in this year’s UMITASHUMTA tournament.

In addition, he noted that 3,360 athletes and 900 educators and leaders will be part of the UMISSETA.

Additionally, Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports Damas Ndumbaro stated that the ministry has dispatched professionals to the tournament following the Prime Minister’s directive, guaranteeing that national teams from the championship would be present after the competition.

“You also directed us to have special schools where the teams will be placed, so in the budget we passed recently, we have allocated funds for the construction of 10 special sports schools.”