Kikwete: Industrial projects must start ‘before I retire’

Kibaha. The long-awaited giant projects for industrializing Tanzania through utilisation of Liganga iron ore and Mchuchuma coal reserves will kick off under the supervision of National Development Corporation (NDC) before President Jakaya Kikwete ends his term in office.

Mr Kikwete has assured Tanzanians that he will use his presidential powers to ensure that the giant projects for establishing basic industries geared to tap huge Liganga iron ore and Mchuchuma coal reserves begin before in 2015.

“The government aims at turning NDC into a catalyst for industrialisation in the country. The projects for industrialisation based on utilisation of Liganga iron ore and Mchuchuma coal reserves, which have been in the country’s talks for many years, must start before I retire,” he said at the ceremony to launch a biotechnology factory for manufacturing bio-products that kill mosquito larvae.

The NDC managing director, Mr Gideon Nasari, said the factor, which cost $22.3 million (about Sh40.2 billion), is set to produce 6 million litres of bio-products annually.

“Since it is a unique factory in the region, we expect to export bio-products in the neighbouring countries after sufficing local market,” Mr Nasari said.

He said the factory is owned by the government as it commands 100 per cent shares, while a Cuban firm, Labiofam, was under a five-year management contract.

Earlier, the NDC chairman, Dr Chrisant Mzindakaya, hailed President Kikwete, who had unveiled the plaque to officially launch the factory, for showing genuine commitment in the fight against malaria.

Malaria is the leading killer disease in the country.

Dr Mzindakaya expressed concern over delayed construction of the factory by almost 14 months.

The delay was caused by, he alleged, corruption and inefficiency at the Dar es Salaam Port.

For his part, the Labiofam chairman, Dr Fraga Castro, said the firm would transfer biotechnology to the country by training Tanzanians.