Local News

Makamba launches empowerment scheme for Bumbuli

BUMBULI MP January Makamba stresses a point during a meeting with journalists in Dar es Salaam on Sunday on the establishment of Bumbuli Development Corporation (BDC). The corporation aims to foster the constituency’s development through agriculture and education. (Photo by Fadhili Akida)

BUMBULI MP, who is also the Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Telecommunication, Mr January Makamba, has launched an ambitious plan that aims at socially and economically empowering his voters.

The plan, which was launched on Sunday entails, among others, an envisaged 780m/- Bumbuli Packing Project that would act as a collection, processing and packing plant for fruits and vegetables.

“Through the Bumbuli Development Corporation (BDC) there will also be another plan to boost capital of microfinance institutions in Bumbuli to the tune of 450m/- to enable them extend credit facilities to small scale producers of fruits and vegetables,” Mr Makamba said at a news conference in Dar es Salaam.

The youthful politician was optimistic that the funding would in the long run increase to 1.6bn/- to cover over 64 groups of saving and credit cooperative societies.

“This programme aims at improving incomes of farmers in Bumbuli through value additions of their products,” he said.It is also expected that the initiative will attract foreign and local investors to Bumbuli and thus create employment opportunities for the locals.

Another motivating parcel of the programme is that starting this year, any student in Bumbuli constituency in Tanga region who passes their Form Four examination with division one to three would receive 50,500/-.

During the press conference on Sunday, Mr Makamba introduced what he dubbed “a concept note on cash delivery for Bumbuli Secondary Schools.” The plan will involve an agreement between Bumbuli Development Corporation (BDC), secondary schools and the education council in Bumbuli.

“Payments will be made after verification of the form four national examination outcomes. These funds will be earmarked for the academic needs of the schools as priotized by school boards,” Mr Makamba said.

Likewise, teachers will receive 60,040/- for each student who passes the exams whereas schools and district councils will receive 31,600/- and 15,800/- respectively.

The awards aim at encouraging better results for students in the 17 secondary schools in Bumbuli following massive failures by students last year, according to Mr Makamba.