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RCs want govt to beef up funds for economic empowerment
2008-05-15 09:33:16
By Guardian Reporter
The government has been challenged to set aside more funds for the national economic empowerment programme for the country`s sustainable development.
Speaking at a national empowerment forum in Dodoma over the weekend, regional and district commissioners from central Tanzania said the idea was important in the realization of national development.
``I`m sure if the government allocated more funds to this area development would be expedited,`` Kigoma RC Joseph Simbakalia said.
He said holding of economic empowerment forums across the country had improved people`s lives.
``These forums have shaped people`s understanding of entrepreneurial skills in the country,`` RC Simbakalia said.
He however noted that the challenge ahead was for local government authorities to fulfill their responsibilities.
He explained that one of the key responsibilities was working closely with the people at the grass-roots level.
Tabora RC Abeid Mwinyimsa also underscored the need for the government to beef up its budget for the programme. He said the empowerment forums intended to empower all the people in the country.
``This is an important idea. That is why I have directed Urambo and Sikonge district commissioners to closely work with jatropha farmers to help them produce more,`` he said.
Morogoro RC Said Kalembo said the national empowerment forum would bear fruit only if responsible government officials and other stakeholders worked along the guidelines and documents provided by the National Business Council (TNBC).
``Let`s take these documents and advice from TNBC and change the lives of our people,`` he said.
Earlier on, TNBC executive secretary Dunstan Mrutu urged responsible organs providing business licences to improve their services and remove unnecessary red tape.
He said bureaucracies in government cycles, including issuing of business licences, had been holding back small-scale business entrepreneurs in their attempts to excel.
According to Mrutu, in Tanzania it took an average of one year for a licence to be given to the applicant.
``This is too long if we compare with Singapore where it takes only six days for someone to be given a business licence,`` he said.
For instance, he said in Iringa for someone to start business it took 359 days while in Kigoma it took 528 days.
TNBC economic adviser and University of Dar es Salaam senior lecturer Prof. Lucian Msambichaka said poverty would be lowered only if people were taught business education as well as developed a saving culture.
Prof. Msambichaka further said that proper use of time would also contribute positively to poverty alleviation.
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