|
Kikwete wants construction of road speeded up
2006-03-01 07:20:30
By Pastory Nguvu, Mtwara
President Jakaya Kikwete has said that the government is not impressed with the speed at which the Dar es Salaam-Mtwara road is being constructed.
Kikwete made the statement yesterday when addressing thousands of Mtwara residents at Sijaona Nangwanda grounds in his one-day tour, which among other things, aimed at thanking the residents for electing him last year.
’’There are many problems which people of Mtwara are experiencing.
However, lack of reliable road to Dar es Salaam is a problem that my government has to solve. Yet, I must say sincerely that the pace at which work on Dar-Mtwara road is going on is not satisfactory.
That is why I will go by road from here to Lindi so that I witness for myself the situation on the ground,’’ he said amid cheers from the huge crowd.
He urged the contractors to increase their speed in order to cope with his ’’new vigor, new zeal and new speed’’ slogan.
President Kikwete also said that his government would also strive to ensure that the problem of electricity in the region gets a permanent solution.
’’During my campaign last year I promised that Mtwara will have reliable electricity. I guarantee that the government is working on this promise.
Special attention will be given to Msimbati gas project as a source of that electricity,’’ he said
Regarding cashew nuts market, he told Mtwara residents that his government is working hard to eradicate the issue of unstable market for the product.
On hunger facing the region, especially Masasi District, He said that the government has enough resources to feed every Tanzanian so that no person would die of hunger.
President Kikwete also used the opportunity to remind Members of Parliament to fulfil the promises they made during campaigns.
Said he: ’’There were two kinds of promises we made during our campaigns. We have those promises which are in our party manifesto which I have already given a copy to every minister so that he may see which promises fall under his ministry, after which he should prepare plans to accomplish them. However, as regard to those promises which MPs made they should communicate with their districts or town councils to ensure that they fulfill them.’’
Earlier, presenting the region’s development report, the Mtwara Regional Commissioner, Henry Shekifu, told the President that Masasi and Nanyumbu districts are facing acute food shortage.
’’The two districts have 322 villages. A total of 440,987 people are facing hunger this year. There is a shortage of about 3,250 tonnes of food,’’ he said.
He added that statistics show that out of 440,987 people who have no food, only 154,345 people have ability to buy food while the remaining 28,664 are unable to purchase food.
President Kikwete was received by Regional Commissioner Henry Shekifu, Cabinet minister Hawa Ghasia, regional administration officials, party leaders as well as religious leaders.
|
