THE Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda (pictured), has deplored what he termed as increasing tendency by some government officials, to compete in purchasing the most expensive luxurious vehicles, instead of using state resources to fight poverty in the country. Mr Pinda observed in Dodoma yesterday that for Tanzania to make positive strides in fighting poverty in the country, government officials must cut back on buying expensive cars and instead focus states money on alleviating poverty in rural areas.
I was in India recently and I was surprised that ministers are using very ordinary vehicles. Here it is different, although we are very poor, we are competing in buying the most expensive vehicles. Ministers, Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretaries, regional commissioners, municipal directors, and administrative officers are driving luxurious vehicles, Premier Pinda lamented during his meeting with livestock stakeholders in Dodoma.
Mr Pinda said vehicles driven by the government officials fall in the range of 100m/- to 230m/-, the money that could have been used to make tremendous strides in fighting poverty in the country.
He directed that purchasing of vehicles for government officials should be revisited, calling for ministers to drive Toyota Hardtop which are less expensive than Mashangingi and conducive to the countrys terrain.
If we decide to implement this move, we can save money that will go into other areas in dire need of financial assistance like the livestock sector, he said.
Explaining how livestock industries can be turned around to be productive, Premier Pinda stressed the importance of investing the little resource available to livestock, agriculture and fishery industries.
Without changing the current system that is not productive, we will not be able to help farmers or livestock keepers to be productive in what they do, said Mr Pinda, adding that livestock experts available should also be utilised to bring reforms in the sector.
He directed a fresh look into the livestock programme, with the purpose of overhauling it and making it more result oriented. He directed for a meeting between government and researchers in the country before the end of the year.
Among issues the government wants to find out from the researchers, are challenges that they face in their field of work. The three-day meeting was attended by livestock stakeholders from Dodoma, Singida, Arusha, Shinyanga, Manyara, Mara, Mwanza, Tabora, Mbeya, Kagera, Morogoro, Coast and Lindi regions.
Daily News
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