Samia pledge fulfilled as govt releases 200bn/-
DODOMA: THE government has released 200bn/- to facilitate empowerment programmes for youth and women engaged in various economic sectors, with Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba directing ministries and institutions to ensure the funds reach the intended beneficiaries.
Speaking yesterday at an event held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dodoma, Dr Nchemba said the disbursement is part of the implementation of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Election Manifesto for 2025–2030 as well as the Fourth Implementation Plan of the National Development Vision 2050, which President Samia Suluhu Hassan pledged to deliver within the first 100 days of her second term.
At the well-attended event, Minister for Finance Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omari presented a dummy cheque worth over 200bn/- to the Prime Minister, who in turn handed it over to the Minister of State for Youth Development, Joel Nanauka, on behalf of all ministers and heads of institutions implementing empowerment initiatives.
Dr Nchemba said the released funds, which will be channelled through various local banks implementing empowerment programmes, are an extension of existing initiatives with similar objectives, including council-level programmes mandated to set aside 10 per cent of their revenues to support youth, women and persons with disabilities.
“Our President does not want these funds to remain within government coffers, but to reach the targeted beneficiaries. We must ensure the money is used for its intended purpose. We have already made changes to the 4-4-2 programme to eliminate ghost groups and unintended beneficiaries,” the Prime Minister emphasised in the presence of ministers and senior officials.
He further directed ministries and institutions to review their respective programmes to ensure they align with the national empowerment policy, stressing that the government should act more as a facilitator rather than a controller.
“We should not only focus on managing the funds, but also on measuring the impact of these empowerment programmes,” he said.
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Dr Nchemba noted that empowerment is a key pillar for the growth of manufacturing, trade, investment and social welfare, particularly for youth and women, adding that the sixth phase government continues to prioritise economic empowerment in line with national development needs.
He said that between 1984 and 2025, Tanzania established a total of 75 funds and programmes aimed at empowering youth and women.
According to the Prime Minister, between 2024 and 2025 alone, the government disbursed a total of 66.9bn/- in loans and guarantees to more than 13,000 beneficiaries through various empowerment programmes.
He expressed optimism that the newly released funds will boost employment opportunities, production, food security and the agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities), Mr William Lukuvi, commended President Samia for her continued leadership in promoting economic empowerment and expanding access to capital for youth and women.
He said limited access to capital, including loans, equipment, machinery and tools, remains a major obstacle to the growth of youth- and women-led economic activities.
Mr Lukuvi said the allocation of 200bn/- reflects the President’s vision and commitment to expanding access to affordable capital, enabling youth and women to compete effectively at national, regional and international levels.
He identified priority sectors including agriculture, mining, arts, industry and trade, fisheries and technology, and underscored the importance of accountability and transparency in implementing empowerment programmes.
