|
...tours Dar slums
2006-07-15 10:09:21
By Guardian Reporter
Visiting World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz toured inspected yesterday the projects the bank is financing in Dar es Salaam.
Wolfowitz toured the city’s Manzese slums in Kinondoni District to assess the impact the projects are likely to have on the living standards of local residents.
He assured local people that the bank would provide more credit to upgrade the dilapidated infrastructure in sprawling unplanned informal settlements in the country.
Manzese ward executive officer Braison Mwangomo told the WB President: ”As a result of the support and role the Bank has played in global poverty reduction, the standards of living in poor countries are improving.”
”Tanzania qualified and received credit in April 2005 to upgrade community infrastructure through Local Government Support Project,” he added.
The Manzese ward official said local people will have access to new and improved facilities under the Community Infrastructure Upgrading Programme (CIUP) when the project is completed.
He enumerated the new projects being undertaken as gravel roads, paved trunk roads, roadside storm drains, bridged trunk storm drains, public toilets, streetlights, solid waste disposal points and public water supply kiosks and yard connections.
Wolfowitz was accompanied during the tour by Dar es Salaam Mayor Adam Kimbisa.
Kimbisa explained to the WB boss how the loan the city authorities received had been spent so far.
Wolfowitz mingled and talked to local people – women, youth and the elderly.
He said poor people need help as they are poor not out of choice. ”It just happens that one is poor,” he said.
Fatuma Said, a resident of the area told WB President that it is very difficult for Manzese residents to access safe and clean water.
”We go for two weeks without water. At times were are forced to buy a 20-litre jerrican for 300 or 400/-,” she said.
Dar es Salaam local authorities, through the government approached the WB in 2001 for financial support to develop the community infrastructure in unplanned informal settlement.
|
