Media Wire Express Correspondent
The 2024/25 financial year is set to allocate a substantial portion of budget funds to seven key areas, with an anticipated rise in spending by approximately Sh5 trillion.
Presenting the 2024/25 Budget Framework to MPs in Dodoma, Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba outlined that the budget would increase by 11.2%, reaching Sh49.346 trillion from the current Sh44.4 trillion.
Major allocations will target debt servicing, civil servants’ salaries, local government elections, preparations for the 2025 General Election, and clearing arrears owed to contractors and service providers.
Additionally, funds will be allocated for rehabilitating existing stadiums and constructing new ones as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals. Tanzania is set to co-host the event with Kenya and Uganda.
The Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, undergoing repairs to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards, is already prepared for Africa’s premier football showcase. Other venues like Chamazi Complex, CCM Kirumba Stadium, and stadia in Dodoma, Arusha, and Zanzibar are also earmarked for upgrades.
The development budget will also focus on ongoing projects, including the standard gauge railway (SGR), Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) fleet expansion, Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, flyovers, bridges, second phase of bus rapid transit (BRT) infrastructure in Dar es Salaam, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), LNG plant in Lindi Region, and the Kigong-Busisi Bridge in Mwanza Region.
Source :Citizen
