THE government will rescue the stalled vocational and technical training centre project slated for Monduli, Arusha Region.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan made this promise yesterday when leading the national commemoration of 40 years of death of then Prime Minister Edward Sokoine.

She aired the fact that as Monduli MP he had donated land for the construction of the center in the budding town, to be implemented by the Catholic Church, but so far the project is yet to be realized.

She requested the Arusha Archdiocese to consult with the Regional Commissioner with a view to reviving the project, noting that works, noting that vocational and technical training plus work studies are crucial in the revised education policy rolled out in January.

Four education institutions have been set up in Monduli District in the past three years, she said, listing the completed projects as Imairete primary school, and Miserani, Mswakini secondary schools while Lepurko secondary school has elevated facilities.

The government had also invested over 7bn/- for school feeding programmes in the district, while completing the Lolkisale Health Center in the town, she said.

Upwards of 27bn/- has been allocated for ongoing projects to supply water from Arusha City to 17 villages in Monduli, she further noted, adding to remarks by Ambassador Joseph Sokoine, son of the late premier, who appealed to the president that a large water well which the premier had supervised its construction in the 1970s to trap rain water be rebuilt.

It would serve to control floods and provide a watering trough for local livestock, he stated.

The then premier was killed in a road accident on April 12, 1984 while commemorative events to celebrate his life are organised nationally every ten years.

The Sokoine Foundation is working to prepare a biography and memoires, assisted by Uongozi Institute which has worked to build such heritage with past leaders like the late former president Benjamin Mkapa, Ambassador Dr Salim Ahmed Salim and the late former president Ali Hassan Mwinyi.

The Sokoine biography is expected to be published later this year, the family scion noted.

Ex-president Jakaya Kikwete led the 30th anniversary event back in 2014, commissioning a new house for the family while in 2004, it was then Premier Frederick Sumaye who led his predecessors Dr Salim, John Malecela and Joseph Warioba in the 20th anniversary event in Monduli.

Until his death at Dakawa section of the Dar es Salaam – Dodoma highway near Morogoro, the late Sokoine was MP for Monduli, which was then extending to include Longido District.