DODOMA: DEPUTY Minister for Home Affairs, Daniel Sillo, said that the government is conducting a nationwide assessment to determine the extent of the shortage of police housing so that they can allocate the necessary budget each year.
He said after the assessment, these houses will be built in phases depending on the availability of funds.
“We are aware that many police officers do not have houses to live in, but for now, we are conducting a nationwide assessment to determine the extent of the shortage so that we know how much budget to allocate each year,” he said.
Mr Sillo said this in the National Assembly while responding to questions from various MPs who wanted to know the government’s plan regarding the renovation and construction of police houses and unfinished police stations in their constituencies.
Responding, the Deputy Minister said the government has pledged to complete 77 police stations this financial year and has allocated 3.8bn/- for this work. Therefore, stations built with community efforts will also be included in the completion plan.
Ndanda MP Cecil Mwambe said that police houses in Masasi District are dilapidated and have been there for a long time, and asked whether the government does not see the need to build new houses for these police officers.
In a supplementary question, Kishapu MP Boniphace Butondo said that the residents of Kishapu District have built a police station but it is yet to be completed. He asked when the government will complete this project.
In his basic question, Tumbatu MP Juma Othman Hija wanted to know the government’s plan to solve the housing problem for police officers at the Mkokotoni Police Station.
Responding, Mr Sillo said that the government, through the Police Force, has already set aside a 2,500 square meter plot of land which will be used to build a six-story building to accommodate a total of 24 police families.
“Funds for this construction are expected to be allocated in the 2025/2026 government budget,” he said.
In a supplementary question, Special Seats MP Tamima Haji Abass requested the government to urgently assist officers who live far from the Mkokotoni police station.
In response, the Deputy Minister said the suggestion has been noted and the Police Force is conducting an assessment to ensure that all dilapidated buildings are repaired and new buildings are constructed to ensure that officers live in safe places.
In a supplementary question, Special Seats MP Esther Midimu wanted to know when the government will build a police station in Maswa district.
Mr Sillo said that the government’s goal is to ensure that it builds police stations in all districts and wards, and therefore funds will be allocated for this purpose.
