PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed Dodoma City leadership to meet with Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) to prepare commuter bus routes heading to the new entrepreneurs’ market along Bahi Road.
The PM said that in addition to implementation of the directives, Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) in Dodoma should make sure that it improves the bus stand at the area so that it can meet the required standards of accommodating commuter buses.
Mr Majaliwa issued the directives on Thursday after inspecting the new market for small scale entrepreneurs located along Bahi Road in Dodoma.
He also instructed Dodoma City Council to oversee the provision of loans to traders to support them in boosting their capital and businesses.
“I would like to commend you for your decision to shift to this market; you have made a right decision that will be beneficial to you,” he said.
The Premier noted that it is the government’s intention to continue uplifting traders by opening doors for doing business in transparent manner and provide them with important services that will bring efficiency in their activities.
In a related development, the PM directed Dodoma City Director, Mr Joseph Mafuru to work on challenges that may arise after the traders move to the new market, including improving road infrastructure, street lights and cooperate with TARURA in installing the lights.
Earlier, responding to the requests by traders, Mr Mafuru said that the City Council has set aside 400m/- for issuing loans to the traders, noting that all the required procedures for loans issuance will be completed by next month.
Deputy Minister of State in President Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr Festo Dugange, said construction of the market follows President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s commitment to improve business environment for petty traders in the country so that they operate in orderly manner.
Dodoma Regional Petty Traders Chairman, Mr Christian Mohamed, expressed gratitude to President Samia for dishing out funds for construction of the market.
In her meeting with Dar es Salaam Petty Traders Association leaders and regional leaders in January this year, President Samia reaffirmed her government’s commitment to reorganise them and build modern markets for them countrywide.
“We are determined to build modern markets with government funds and acquire soft loans from donors,” President Samia said.
According to her, the government’s goal is to ensure that petty traders graduate from small-scale business level to either medium or higher level so that they can start paying taxes.
She expressed the government commitment of continuing to address all of their challenges, including those who were unable to find areas to work.
