MPs commend Lukuvi’s work

Dodoma. The Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr William Lukuvi, won rare praise in Parliament yesterday for the job he had done in the docket despite budgetary constraints.

The minister won praise from both sides of the National Assembly after tabling his ministry’s budget for the 2015/16. MPs saluted his effort and creativity to tackle land related conflicts around the country.

MPs cited Mr Lukuvi’s proactive approach at the ministry as commendable amid the fact that the ministry did not receive any cent for development expenditure during the current financial year.

MPs applauded Mr Lukuvi as he tabled the budget in the Parliament yesterday while almost all those who contributed started by congratulating him.

“It’s my first time to see MPs clapping for a minister reading a budget. You did a good job,” said Speaker Anne Makinda.

MPs commended the job done by Mr Lukuvi especially mentioning some of the contentious large farms Mr Lukuvi visited throughout the country and solved the conflicts around them by cancelling suspected illegal ownerships.

Dr Faustine Ndugulile (Kigamboni-CCM) who has been at the forefront in opposing previous budgets for the ministry, congratulated Mr Lukuvi yesterday on the way he handled the Kigamboni issue.

“For the first time, I congratulate the Lands ministry budget for the well done job. You have restored the ministry’s respect to the public. I believe if you come back to the docket, we will surely build Kigamboni,” he said.

He also wanted to know when surveying of 20,000 plots in Kigamboni will complete.

According to Mr Lukuvi, Kigamboni residents are now free to sell their lands at current rates, partner with investors interested in their area or develop their plots as required by the plan.

He also excluded three wards of Pembamnazi, Kisarawe II and Kimbiji with 44,440 acres from the project area as announced earlier.

Ms Naomi Kaihula (Special Seats-Chadema) and Ms Clara Mwatuka (Special Seats-CUF) also congratulated Mr Lukuvi and his team for what they did.

Ms Kaihula asked the Lands Ministry to ensure that retired officials are well handled by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and avoid displacing them forcefully once they delay or fail to pay rents.

ENDS