Samia demands efficiency in service delivery

RUVUMA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed district council officials nationwide to uphold the government’s commitment to improving the working environment by serving the public with dedication and fostering social and economic development.

The Head of State issued the directive during the inauguration of the Mbinga District Council buildings in the Ruvuma Region.

The facility 72-room building, constructed at the cost of 3.5bn/- hosts offices for the district director, the council chairperson, department heads and their assistants, as well as multipurpose meeting halls.

At the inauguration ceremony, President Samia emphasised that the new facility should exemplify high-quality services for the community.

“The purpose of constructing the council buildings is to create a conducive environment for officials and facilitate efficient service delivery. Therefore, the services provided should reflect the quality of the building,” she said.

President Samia urged officials to utilise these facilities professionally and offer exceptional services to citizens, highlighting that the new offices should be used to address the public’s concerns.

She noted that the completion of the building aligns with the ruling CCM party manifesto, which aims to expedite services to the public and promote good governance.

The manifesto (2020-2025) emphasises strengthening Local Government Authorities to improve service quality, with policies supporting decentralisation to bring power closer to the people.

The President called on local leaders, including councillors, to actively oversee development projects to alleviate challenges faced by the community.

“We are servants of the people, not rulers. That is why the government is investing heavily to address the issues faced by citizens,” she stressed.

Additionally, President Samia encouraged local farmers to invest their earnings wisely and save for agricultural activities, enhancing productivity and contributing to the region’s economic growth.

The Minister for Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, reported that through the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) centres in Ruvuma, the government has purchased over 13,000 tonnes of maize, paying farmers more than 10bn/-.

He added that all NFRA centres will be equipped with maize-cleaning machines to ease the burden on farmers.

Minister Bashe also noted the introduction of a digital system for coffee payments, allowing direct transactions to farmers and reducing bureaucratic delays.

Plans are in place to build 5,000-tonnes-capacity warehouses to store maize, improving sales efficiency and reducing transportation costs.

Works Minister, Innocent Bashungwa, revealed that the government has allocated 3bn/- for the construction of the Luanda-Amani-Makolo Road to address transportation challenges faced by residents in the area.

Additionally, the government has allocated 206.7bn/- for building 127 administrative buildings and residences for council directors, with 8.25bn/- earmarked for various councils in the Ruvuma region.

Water Minister Jumaa Aweso revealed that water accessibility in the Mbinga Rural area stands at 71 per cent, with eight ongoing projects expected to raise accessibility to 86 per cent upon completion.

He mentioned that the government is also addressing water challenges in the Kigonsera area with a major water project.

During her address to citizens in Kigonsera, Mbinga and Nyoni, President Samia urged maize farmers to avoid selling their crops at a loss to middlemen and to prioritise selling through the NFRA, which offers better prices.

She advised them to take full advantage of the government’s purchasing channels to maximise profits.

“I have been informed that individuals are offering 300/- per kilogramme, while the NFRA offers 700/- per kilogramme. The government is providing an excellent opportunity—seize it wisely,” President Samia said.

She instructed district leaders to monitor prices set for farmers and provide education on selling through the NFRA.

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The president encouraged farmers to manage their income wisely, enabling them to invest in expanding their farms or for personal use.

President Samia also emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, unity and solidarity as the nation approaches elections, urging citizens to ignore those who seek to disrupt the existing peace.