Sh96 million set to rebuild Lindi school hit by disaster
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Prof Riziki Shemdoe, unveils a foundation stone for the reconstruction of facilities at Mkwajuni Primary School in Lindi on Monday, September 14, 2026. Others are Mchinga MP Salma Kikwete, who helped unveil the plaque, and Lindi Regional Commissioner Adam Malima, alongside other regional officials. PHOTO | COURTESY
Alfred Zacharia is a business reporter for The Citizen and Mwananchi newspapers.
Mwananchi Communications Limitted
Dodoma. The government has allocated Sh96 million to rebuild four classrooms and a head teacher’s office at Mkwajuni Primary School in Lindi after part of the school was destroyed by a disaster earlier this year.
A statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, by the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG) shows that the project follows an appeal raised in Parliament by Mchinga lawmaker, Ms Salma Kikwete, over the condition of the school.
The disaster struck on January 29, 2026, destroying the roofs of two classrooms, the head teacher’s office, two teachers’ houses and pupils’ toilets.
Another classroom was damaged after a cashew tree fell on it.
Minister of State in PMO-RALG, Prof Riziki Shemdoe, laid the foundation stone for the new facilities on Monday, September 14, 2026, during a visit to inspect development projects in the region.
The statement says Prof Shemdoe had earlier directed Lindi Municipal Council to urgently secure funds for reconstruction after Ms Kikwete raised the matter in Parliament.
He says the government had demonstrated its ability to respond quickly to challenges affecting communities.
“We sought approval from the President to request funds to construct these four classrooms, and today we have witnessed four new classrooms and a headteacher’s office at Mkwajuni, following efforts made by the MP, Ms Salma Kikwete,” he said.
Prof Shemdoe, said PMO-RALG would provide additional funds to enable the school to construct more classrooms.
The additional construction aims to replace older classrooms, including those located within a road reserve.
Speaking during the event, Ms Kikwete thanked the government for supporting the reconstruction project and appealed for further assistance to build additional classrooms and offices.
“Improved infrastructure will surely provide teachers with better working conditions and enable pupils to study in safer and more conducive surroundings,” she noted.
Lindi Regional Commissioner Adam Malima thanked the government for supporting development projects in the region and pledged to continue working to improve services for residents.
The Mkwajuni project was among several development projects inspected by the visiting minister in the region.
Others include the Kilwa Masoko Fishing Port project; construction of a maternity ward and neonatal care unit at Kinyonga District Hospital; construction of a primary school at Mkunyule in Mandawa Ward; and the Kitomanga ‘B’ Primary School project.
The reconstruction of Mkwajuni Primary School comes as the government continues to invest in education infrastructure while responding to damage caused by disasters and other emergencies.
