ZANZIBAR: TANZANIA Social Action Fund (TASAF) is implementing 13 infrastructural projects worth 9bn/- in Unguja and Pemba islands of Zanzibar.
The projects being implemented are meant to ease accessibility of social services as a means to help poor households improve their economies as part of strategies of implementing the Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN).
This was disclosed by TASAF Acting Executive Director Mr Shedrack Mziray during an event to lay the foundation stone for the construction of examination hall for Bambi Primary and Secondary Schools in Unguja South Region.
“TASAF is implementing these projects as part of efforts to empower poor households in a way that gives them access to better social services,” he said.
He said, PSSN is a countrywide programme that is executed in Mainland and Zanzibar. In Zanzibar the programme is serving all 338 Shehias with a total number of 55,000 households.
“Currently the project serves a total of 1.3 million households where in Zanzibar there are more than 55,000 households,” he maintained.
Mr Mziray further identified some of the tasks that TASAF has been carrying out as including provision of cash transfer in every two months to beneficiaries’ households.
“There are other components of the programme that include execution of Public Works Projects (PWP) that aim at supporting local communities to access social services. Here in Zanzibar we have a total of 13 projects worth a total of 9bn/-,” he asserted.
Speaking after laying a foundation stone, chief guest, who is the Zanzibar Minister for Information, Arts, Culture and Sports Tabia Mwita Maulid said the project is crucial in decongesting students in the examination rooms.
“This will help in improving their academic performance,” she said, thanking TASAF for carrying out the tasks that are vital in alleviating poverty.
“TASAF is doing a great job to assist the government on construction of various infrastructure projects, we shall continue supporting this programme as it has tangible benefits to PSSN beneficiaries and community at large,” she noted further.
The minister also asked residents of Bambi Shehia to continue cooperating with TASAF for the structure to be completed on time.
TASAF has issued 117.5m/- for the project that has now reached 76 per cent towards completion that is set for February 2024.
