TASAF says 75,000 graduate from poverty

ABOUT 75,000 beneficiaries of the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) programmes have been lined up for graduation after attaining improved livelihood, and economic and financial status.

The graduation of poor households from the programme has enabled the country to reduce its basic income and food poverty by 10.0 per cent and 8.0 per cent, respectively.

TASAF Executive Director Mr Ladislaus Mwamanga told journalists on the sidelines of a familiarisation tour of the programmes’ activities conducted recently in Rufiji District, Coast Region by officials from the Zanzibar Second Vice-President’s Office in collaboration with the TASAF Community Management Committee (CMC) from Kizimkazi-Dimbani village.

Mr Mwamanga indicated that 75,000 beneficiaries have been generated from the 158,000 households which were identified for verification.

“By leaving the programme, it is clear that the government has attained its aim of improving their living standards through TASAF as it has changed their lives economically and removed them from abject poverty to much better living conditions,” said Mr Mwamanga.

He added: “The aim of the programme is to see the beneficiaries’ lives are improving for we do not intend for them to stay throughout their entire life…we are very pleased to see the anticipated goal is being attained.”

According to him, another verification exercise will begin this week, noting that some of the beneficiaries have been relieved by the programme and usually voluntarily opt out before the actual process.

As such, he called upon the TASAF Community Management Committee to encourage the beneficiaries who are heading toward graduation to voluntarily withdraw themselves from the programme.

The Sheha of Kizimkazi, Mr Kassim Fadhil Ramadhan, said that a total of 101 households in the Shehia were currently benefiting from the programme.

He noted that they were hoping that in the coming days, more people who were living in abject poverty will be included in the programme.