Samia’s social services pledge as she starts 9-day Tanga tour

Handeni. President Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving social services, as she embarked on a nine-day tour of the Tanga Region.

The visit aims to assess the impact of the Sh3.1 trillion allocated for development projects in key sectors, including health, education and infrastructure.

She told residents of Handeni District that she decided to visit Tanga in order to evaluate how government funds have been utilised to enhance public services.

“The objective of my visit is to see what the Sh3.1 trillion has accomplished. I will visit each district to inspect various development projects and engage with the people,” said President Hassan who came into office on March 19, 2021.

As part of her visit, the President laid the foundation stone for the Handeni District Council Hospital, a major health investment in the region. 

Despite being a district hospital, President Hassan noted that it has been constructed to regional standards, with 900 expectant mothers having already received care, including 300 who underwent caesarean sections.

She also directed the Ministry of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government Authorities – PO-RALG) to allocate Sh240 billion for the construction of an orthopaedic unit.

She said her administration prioritises direct feedback from citizens regarding ongoing projects.

She assured residents that the government remains committed to addressing pressing concerns, including power shortages and inadequate road networks.

“Regarding roads, since the Minister (of Works, Mr Abdallah Ulega) is present, he has taken note and will find a way to address the issue,” she added.

Responding to calls from Handeni Rural MP John Salu to elevate the area to district status, President Hassan said such a move would depend on economic growth. 

“At present, the economy does not justify the creation of new administrative areas, but this could be reconsidered in the 2026/27 financial year if conditions improve,” she explained.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the ruling CCM in Tanga, Mr Rajabu Abdulrahman, said that expansion at Tanga Port has led to increased vehicle traffic, contributing to frequent accidents on the Segera–Chalinze highway. 

He urged the government to prioritise road improvements to enhance safety.

Data from the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) shows that the performance of Tanga Port has significantly improved in recent years, thanks to a government investment of Sh429.8 billion.

The improvements at Tanga Port were conducted in two phases. They included increasing the water depth from just three metres to 13 metres and expanding the turning channel for ships.

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The Sh429.1 billion project also involved purchasing new cargo handling equipment and expanding two berths at the port to a width of 450 meters.

With these upgrades, ships can now dock directly at the berths. This is a significant change from the previous situation, where vessels had to anchor approximately 1.7 kilometres away and were serviced using barges.

The enhancements have also boosted Tanga Port’s productivity, enabling it to offload cargo from large vessels within two days, compared to the five days or more required previously.

During the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the port handled a total of 333,643 tonnes of cargo, surpassing its target of 283,225 tonnes by 17 percent. This is a substantial improvement compared to the 204,000 tonnes handled during the same period in the 2023/24 fiscal year.

Overall, Tanga Port managed to handle 1,191,480 tonnes of cargo during the entire 2023/24 fiscal year, up from 890,901 tonnes in the previous year. Additionally, the port successfully managed 113 ships during the first quarter, exceeding its target of handling only five.

The Sh429.1 billion project also involved purchasing new cargo handling equipment, including two mobile harbour cranes, each with a capacity to handle 100 tonnes, a Rubber Tyred Gantry Crane, an Empty Handler, and a Grab that can carry 15-tonne loads. 

Additionally, six forklifts of various handling capacities and three spenders—two for handling 40-foot containers and one for 20-foot containers—were acquired.

But the improvement has come with some challenges, with Mr Abdulrahman asking President Hassan yesterday that with an increase in accidents at the Segera–Chalinze highway, the government could prioritise road improvements to enhance safety.

PO-RALG minister Mohamed Mchengerwa said the construction of Handeni District Hospital has greatly benefited residents from 21 wards, significantly improving access to medical services. In the education sector, he reported a rise in student enrolment, with the government allocating Sh43 billion monthly to support free education.