DODOMA: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has said that the government is committed to ensuring that foreigners are not given permits to conduct business that can be done by local citizens.
He said that the country has a good policy that protects the interests of locals when it comes to business issues. He gave an assurance during a session for an impromptu questions and answers to the Prime Minister in the august House on Thursday when responding to a question posed by special seats legislator, Lucy Mayenga (CCM).
In her question, Ms Mayenga wanted to know the government’s plan to come up with a proper policy that favours Tanzanian citizens when it comes to doing business.
“Why shouldn’t the government look for proper measures to have outsiders deal only with production in industries and allow other procedures like distribution to be done by local citizens?” she asked.
In response, the Premier said: “We have a good policy which allows local businesspersons to conduct their activities without any interference from foreign citizens.’’ Another Special Seats legislator, Asharose Matembe raised an issue of some drivers of bodaboda who fail to abide by traffic laws thus causing unnecessary accidents that have been killing people, reducing the country’s workforce.
The MP wanted to know what plans were in place to intensify massive education to the drivers in efforts to rescue the situation.
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Responding, the Prime Minister said that the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs was conducting training to all registered bodaboda drivers with licences issued by Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA).
During the session, Ushetu Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Cherehani asked the PM to offer explanation on the government’s plan in relation to issuance of loans to a large group of people above 35 years who are neither women nor Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) thus failing to have a share on the 10per cent loans provided to youths (4per cent), women (4per cent) and PWDS.
“This is a group that has a lot of responsibilities in their families, including ensuring that children get access to food, education and many other responsibilities,’’ said the MP.
Mr Majaliwa said that the government had not forgotten the group, adding that there were plans to convince financial institutions to provide low interest loans.
“We want to see many financial entities opening windows for loans to persons above 45 years, although we have many banks that have been offering such loans,’’ he said.
Bahi MP, Kenneth Nollo, had wanted the Prime Minister to offer clarification on whether there were plans to allow some councils and municipalities that had large collections of revenue to employ teachers to cover the shortage.
However, the Premier said that the issue of employment of public servants will remain with the central government in order to have a clear database of all employees in the public service.
