THEME: LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES INTRODUCTION The thrust of - PDF document

TALKING NOTE OF HONORABLE JOHN HENJEWELE THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER FOR SERENGETI DISTRICT TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ALLIANCE (TTA) WORKSHOP HELD AT PEACOCK HOTEL 5 TH JUNE 2014. DAR ES SALAAM THEME: ‘ LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES’ INTRODUCTION The thrust of Tanzania's development agenda since independence has been on economic growth and poverty reduction; the prime objective being to ensure that the majority of Tanzanians enjoy the benefits of development. Tanzania like any other country in Africa has already set its Development priorities as stipulated in guide line for the preparation of plan and budget 2011/12 – 2015/2016 these include:- (i) Education • Improving the quality of education at all levels especially availability of text books, laboratories and school desks. Emphasis should also focus on people with disabilities; • Improving the education and training policy and its strategies including skills development; • Strengthening the financing of higher education; and • Improving teachers’ services including housing and incentives. (ii) Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries • Developing and improving infrastructure for irrigation and livestock use; 1

• Increasing availability and utilization of inputs and implements for agriculture, livestock and fisheries; • Strengthening research and extension services; • Empowering the private sector to invest in agriculture, livestock and fishing; and • Improving market access and agro-processing. (iii) Energy • Increasing level of production of electricity by using different sources of power; • Strengthening and expanding infrastructure for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the country; • Continue with studies and exploration of natural gas and oil; and • Expanding natural gas infrastructures. (iv) Transport and Infrastructure Development • Construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges and ferries; • Establishment of Road Development Fund and expanding revenue base for the Road Maintenance Fund; • Construction and rehabilitation of Government buildings and houses, including development of newly established administrative areas (Regions, Districts and LGAs) such as administration blocks, staff houses, police posts, prisons, courts and hospitals; • Construction and rehabilitation of the railways to meet international standard; 2

• Improving air transport services including rehabilitation and construction of airports; and • Construction and rehabilitation of ports and ship assembling. (v) Health • Enhancing quality of curative, preventive and rehabilitative services at all levels; • Construction and rehabilitation of health facilities at all levels; • Improving housing and incentives for public health workers; and • Training and recruiting new medical doctors, nurses and paramedical graduates. (vi) Water • Implementing Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme; • Implementing a special program for improving water supply and sewerage services in Dar es Salaam City; • Continue to implement ongoing water projects and facilitate Urban Water Authorities to control water leakages and rehabilitate water supply infrastructure. • Extending the implementation of Lake Victoria - Shinyanga – Kahama Water Project to neighboring districts of Nzega, Igunga and Tabora including villages and townships along the project. (vii) Lands, Housing and Settlements • Establishing the National satellite direct receiving station to facilitate land use planning; 3

• Strengthening and expanding ICT infrastructure for land information system to facilitate provision of efficient land services including address and postcode system; • Establishment of Mortgage Financing Fund; and • To facilitate land surveying, mapping and issuance of title deeds; and • Establishment of institution responsible for management of land bank. (viii) Science and Technology • Improving ICT infrastructure and services including completion of the construction, and create awareness on the use of the national backbone (optical fibre); • Strengthening Science, technology and innovation institutional infrastructure including technical institutions, Science parks and incubators; and • Enhancing Research and Development (R&D) and commercialization of research results. (ix) Financial Services • Reviewing the micro finance policy and improving provision of credits; • Conducting public Education Programs for Financial Markets and promote citizens’ participation in Dar es salaam Stock Exchange; • Improving the management of social security funds with emphasis in efficient, profitable and risk free investments; and • Developing and implementing a comprehensive PFMRP IV Medium Term Strategic Plan; 4

• Conducting public Education Programs on financial services and entrepreneurship; • Establishing regulatory office for micro finance institutions. (x) Cross Cutting Issues • Improving environmental conservation including legislative enforcement, public education, and sustainable management of natural resources; • Enhancing good governance including rule of law, combating corruption and improving transparence and accountability at all levels; • Promote gender interventions through implementation of gender policy and elimination of harmful traditional practices and violence against women and vulnerable groups; • Establishment of HIV/AIDS Control Fund and improving interventions at all levels in line with the National HIV and AIDS Multi-Sectoral Strategic Framework; and • Strengthening the existing economic empowerment initiatives. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES SETTING AT GRASSROOT (case of Serengeti) Aim of the local government reform process in Tanzania is to ensure that citizens at the grassroots level are involved in the planning and implementation of development programmes in their local areas. Through participatory planning and budgeting, the reforms envisage that 5

development programmes will be relevant to local needs and engender a sense of ownership to facilitate implementation. Propelled by the decentralization of responsibility and financial resources for delivering public services from central government to local government authorities (LGAs), Article 146 (1) of the constitution defines the purpose of having local government authorities as “the transfer of authority to the people”. According to the article “Local government authorities shall have the right and power to participate, and to involve the people, in the planning and implementation of development programmes within their respective areas and generally throughout the country”. Article 146 (2) of the constitution provides: “Without prejudice to the generality of sub article (1) of this Article, a local government authority, in conformity with the provisions of the law establishing it, shall have the following functions: (a) To perform the functions of local government within its area; (b) To ensure the enforcement of law and public safety of the people; and (c) To consolidate democracy within its area and to apply it to accelerate the development of the people.” Serengeti is one among of rural district in Tanzania where Over 90% of its population lives in rural areas whereby their livelihood mostly depends on agriculture and livestock activities. Development Priority setting builds on the foundation created by the situational analysis that involved community stakeholders and is "owned" by the community serves as a basis for making decisions on priorities. Priorities are established with an understanding of the resources that are available to help achieve the required outcomes and impact. Resources 6