SAMIA @ 2 : Pledges well fulfilled

TODAY, President Samia Suluhu Hassan is marking two years since she was sworn in to the position in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, the late Dr John Magufuli.

The late Dr Magufuli died on March 17, 2021 while receiving treatment at the Mzena Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam on heart ailment he had battled for over 10 years.

Due to that, Dr Samia who was the Vice-President, was sworn in to the Presidency as stipulated in the article 37 (5) of Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of the year 1977.

The article reads “When the Office of the President becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, loss of electoral qualifications or inability to perform his functions due to physical infirmity or failure to discharge the duties and functions of the Office of the President, then the Vice-President shall be sworn in and become the President for the unexpired period of the term of five years and in accordance with conditions set in Article 40”.

Soon after taking the oath of office as the country was still covered with a heavy blanket of grief following the death of Dr Magufuli, she offered an uplifting and healing message which rightly restored hopes in the midst of despair.

She assured to continue with development projects and programmes initiated during the administration of the fifth phase government under the late Dr Magufuli as well as coming up with new ones for national development.

She then appealed to all Tanzanians to stand together as they mourned the untimely demise of Dr Magufuli, assuring that nothing would go wrong as the country was blessed with capable leaders.

“Our country is also gifted with good leaders with the solid foundations of nationalism, brotherhood, unity and tolerance and well-disciplined defence and security organs,” she was quoted as saying.

The Head of State vowed to continue from where her predecessor left, especially in completing all strategic development projects.

So far, a lot of progress has been attained in various sectors be it infrastructure, energy, water, agriculture, health, education, diplomacy and so on.

On infrastructures, the government has continued with construction of various projects including Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), construction of roads, bridges and expansion of ports and airports, construction of  new ships  including MV Mwanza Hapa Kazi Tu whose construction has reached 82  per cent  and a 3.2-kilometre Kigongo- Busisi  Bridge which is expected to be completed next February.

SGR project

As of February this year, execution of Lot One of the project that covers Dar es Salaam and Morogoro was complete by 97.94 per cent followed by the Lot Two from Morogoro – Makutupora whose completion was at 92.88 per cent.

Moreover, the third Lot from Makutupora- Tabora was at 5.5per cent, while the Lot Five of the Isaka-Mwanza section (341km) was at 28.03 per cent towards completion.

Lot Four that connects Tabora and Isaka, whose foundation stone was laid in January this year by Vice-President Dr Phillip Mpango, is now at 1.64 per cent toward completion.

Water sector 

The government is now executing a total of 2,706 water projects that are now being implemented under the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA).

“In two years of administration of President Samia, supply of water in the country has increased by 6.8 per cent from 70.1 per cent in March 2021 to 76.9 per cent,” said yesterday Deputy Minister for Water Eng Maryprisca Mahundi.

The deputy minister assured the commitment of the ministry to maintain the      supervision of the renovation, construction and designing of water projects.

Agriculture

The government has   made a ground breaking record by increasing the budget for the Agriculture sector which is the backbone of the country’s economy.

In the current fiscal year, the government raised the sector’s budget nearly three-fold of the previous financial year and put more financial resources into research and irrigation, among other key aspects.

The Agriculture budget increased to 954bn/-, up from 294bn/- which was allocated during the previous fiscal year.

Out of the budget, 150bn/- was allocated to subsidising fertilisers that are now sold at a flat rate across the country.

The subsidy has lowered prices of fertilisers to an average of between 50,000/- and 70,000/- from the current market price of up to 136,135/-.

On various occasions President Samia has repeatedly been assured of the government’s determination to continue supporting improvements in the agriculture sector since it’s a backbone for the country’s economy.

However, she warned that the subsidy for fertiliser may not be provided every year, challenging farmers to commercialise their farming for an improved productivity that will guarantee food security, as well as providing surplus for export.

More so, budget allocation for irrigation was increased from 57bn/- in the financial year 2021/2022 to 416bn/- in the current fiscal year.

Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP)

When she took over the office, the project was at 37 per cent but to date it has reached 82 per cent of its implementation.

In December last year, Dr Samia graced the opening of the diversion channel to direct water into the dam, paving the way for  power production in the plant that is expected to  add 2115 Megawatts to the national  grid.

JNHPP is one of the mega hydroelectric projects in Africa,  Tanzanians should be proud of the huge investment done by the government which will have multiple benefits to citizens and the country at large.

Health

According to the Ministry of Health some of the successes recorded in the two years of President Samia include, among others completion of the first phase construction of  the  Southern Zone  Mtwara  Referral Hospital and other referral hospitals in   Katavi, Mara, Songwe, Shinyanga  and  Geita  at a cost of  51.4bn/-.

Other success projects  include  rehabilitation  and construction of new buildings  in regional refferal hospitals of  Njombe, Simiyu, Sokoine (Lindi), Ligula (Mtwara), Maweni (Kigoma), Songea (Ruvuma), Sumbawanga (Rukwa), Kitete (Tabora)  and Ukerewe (Mwanza)  in which a total of  54.2bn/- have been spent in the projects.

Democracy

On democracy President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been commended for her determination to strengthen democracy by lifting ban on political rallies.

Speaking at the opening of the conference on the State of Multiparty Democracy in  Dodoma on December last year, President Samia said one  of her responsibilities  as Head of State  was to unite the nation  in order to maintain peace, unity and  harmony.

She called upon political parties to strengthen democracy and to conduct civilised politics. The President stresses on civilised politics, national interest and mutual understanding. She emphasised on the need for political parties to play safe by avoiding inciting violence.

Diplomacy

Since she assumed power in March, 2021, President Samia has pushed for Tanzania to embark on economic diplomacy for improved welfare of its people.

Speaking during her maiden address to the parliament on April 12th, 2021, President Samia said the sixth phase government would continue to cement relations with other nations and international organisations.

“As such, we will strengthen our relations with other countries as well as regional and international organisations. In achieving that objective, we will improve performance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation in collaboration with our embassies abroad,” she told the august House.

Dr Samia noted then that to ensure improved efficiency in economic diplomacy, the government would ensure it employed highly competent official, including making best economic use of its buildings and plots in foreign countries.

“For the sake of enabling implementation of economic diplomacy, the government will open new embassies and consular offices as well as investment centres in strategic cities in order to promote tourism attractions,” Dr Samia promised.

The President’s determination to open up the country has seen the 2001 Foreign Policy undergoing review to keep pace with the ongoing political, social and economic changes in the world.