Francis Barnabas
National Assembly Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson has directed the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) to use emergency funds which will be dished out by the government to rehabilitate road infrastructure which have been severely damaged following ongoing heavy rains to restore communication in affected areas.
“There are roads which have no communication and those with communication but are impassable and those which need normal maintenance, you should also make a countrywide assessment on all road infrastructure,” she directed.
To ensure the infrastructure are rehabilitated, Minister for Finance Dr Mwigulu Nchemba assured the Parliament that a total of 30bn/- which has been requested by PO-RALG will be dished out before the end of the ongoing parliament meeting
Dr Tulia issued the directive in the House on Wednesday after several MPs wanted to know whether the funds will also benefit their constituencies which were not mentioned as among beneficiaries.
She advised Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) to prioritise roads which have no communication at all to be followed by those which have been damaged and those which need minor repair.
Responding to MPs concerns regarding the damaged road infrastructure Deputy Minister in the President’s Office RALG Deo Ndejembi said the funds have already been released for Kawe and Iringa while the process is underway to dispatch funds to other areas which have also been affected by rains.
The MPs who wanted to know when will the emergency funds be released are Special Seats MP Grace Tendegu (Chadema), Kilwa North MP Francis Ndulane (CCM), Mpanda Rural Legislator Selemani Kakoso (CCM), Rorya MP Jafari Chege (CCM), Arumeru West Noah Saputu (CCM), Morogoro South East Shabani Taletale (CCM), Mbulu Rural Flatei Massay (CCM), and Kawe legislator Bishop Josephat Gwajima (CCM).
Responding to a basic question by Special Seats MP Regina Qwaray (CCM) Ndejembi said the government has started to rehabilitate rural roads which have been affected by ongoing El- Nino rains whereby a total of 498m/- have been given to TARURA in Manyara region.
Ms Qwaray wanted to know whether there was emergency plan to rehabilitate rural roads in Manyara region which have been damaged by rains.
He said the work will include removing mud, digging and cleaning canals and river channels among others.
“Efforts are underway by the government to solicit funds for rehabilitating more road infrastructure which have been damaged by ongoing rains,” Mr Ndejembi said.
Speaking recently during the installation service of the elected Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT), Dr Alex Malasusa, in Dar es Salaam President Samia Suluhu Hassan directed key ministries including the Ministry of Energy, Water, Health and Works respond timely to the effects brought about by climate change including floods which require emergency services.
She also directed all citizens to leave dangerous flood-prone areas as El Nino rains continue to wreak havoc in Dar es Salaam and other coastal areas.
President Samia ordered the Fire and Rescue Force to be on standby to provide emergency service whenever needed in areas affected by climate change including flooding.
