MEMBERS of Parliament yesterday questioned the whereabouts of President John Magufuli’s Sh 50m/- promise to every village, one year since he took office. Leader of Opposition camp in Parliament, Freeman Mbowe went further saying if fulfilled it would be one of the miracles of the fifth government which has failed to fund more pressing issues like students loans.
He said the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi(CCM) is used to giving empty promises during campaigns, adding that most Tanzanians do not know where billions of shillings, dubbed JK billions that was meant to empower youths went to.
The opposition chief noted, “It is shameful that you keep on giving Tanzanians false hopes while in real sense there is no money.
Most ministries and departments have not received 2016/17 budget allocations, it is only government working through miracles that can achieve all these”.
Chemba MP, Juma Nkamia (CCM) told the house that governmenent promises haunt them as they cannot provide answers to electorates who want to know when the money will be disbursed.
“We do not have answers to this question whenever people ask about the money the government has also failed to issue official statement on the matter.
Maswa East MP, Stanslaus Nyongo (CCM) also wondered why the promise has not been fulfilled, stating that the poor villagers who were targeted keep on asking for the money.
Asking a supplementary question on behalf Shinyanga Urban MP,Stephen Masele(CCM), he said, “ What makes it difficult to implement the president’s campaign”.
In the main question, the legislature on behalf of his Shinyanga Urban counterpart had asked the Prime Minister’s office to explain when the money will be disbursed to help solve problems affecting women and youths in the villages.
But the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Labour, Youth and Employment, Anthony Mavunde said told the house that implementation of President John Magufuli's promise to provide 50m/- to every village just a wait cabinet approval.
He said at least 59.5 bn/- has been set aside for the purpose in the 2016/17 financial year. However he noted that it needs serious planning on how to implement the plan since there are over 12,500 villages in the country that need the money.
“It is a big issue that the government cannot just hurriedly start with serious planning” he said, adding that soon the money will be disbursed.
He told the National Assembly that the procedures on the best way of distributing the money were being prepared by National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) together with Regional Administration and Local Government.
Mr Mavunde said the government has put in place several strategies to ensure the youths become entrepreneurs and qualify for loans.
The strategies, according to the deputy minister, include identification of the youths and their needs at different levels as well as provision of entrepreneurship training to different youth groups.
However, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled), Ms Jenista Mhagama, dismissed the sentiments as mere worries, saying the government will fulfill the promise.
“Let me assure the public that the government has set budget for the village development fund and will start releasing the money soon and just working on the right modalities” she said
We are still waiting for what they promissed us. But we know that poor plans always lead to poor implimentation.
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