Govt disburses 2bn/- to improve Makambako water project

DAILY NEWS Reporter

THE government has disbursed 2.4bn/- for improvement of water project at Makambako Town in Njombe Region.

The Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, revealed that on Thursday when addressing a rally at Police grounds in Makambako as part of his working tour in the region.

The premier said the government intention is to ensure that citizens have access to clean and safe water in a distance which does not exceed 400 metres as per national water policy.
He , however, told the residents in the region to shy from conducting activities near water sources to protect them.
Mr Majaliwa said the government has been spending a lot of money in water projects because most of the water sources have dried up due to human activities.
In another development, the premier assured residents relocated to pave way for the construction of an international market that they would be compensated.
“You will soon be paid your compensation after the government through the Ministry of Finance and Planning completes all procedures required for making payments.
He said the government had set aside land at Idofi in Makambako for the construction of an inspection centre for trucks as efforts to minimise trade barriers among the East African member states.
He said the station would have police posts, immigration, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Natural Resources offices as well and a weigh bridge.
Earlier, Njombe MP, Deo Sanga said one of the challenges facing residents of Makambako was delay in payment of compensation, a situation that forced some of them to demand the payments from him.
“My electorate have been demanding for their compensation for a long time; some of them have reached a point of coming to sleep outside my home, demanding for clarification concerning their payments,” he said.
The legislator also expressed gratitude to the government for its efforts to improve the livelihood of its people.
Njombe Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Christopher Ole Sendeka, said that the government has set aside 2.8bn/- for the construction of a 95-metre bridge at Ruhuhu River.
He said an agreement for the construction of the poles had already been signed between the contractor, M/s Lukolo Company and Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) at a cost of 6.17bn/- for 24 months.