Govt reaffirms commitment to transform nation into industrial economy by 2025

The government has reaffirmed commitment to develop the country into a middle income industrial driven economy by 2025.


Industry and Trade deputy minister Janet Mbene made the affirmation yesterday in parliament when responding to a question by Rita Mlaki, Special Seats Legislator (CCM) who wanted an update on government’s strategies towards achieving an industrial revolution.

Mbene explained that the government has a policy in place for sustainable industrial development of the country and has prepared an Integrated Industrial Development Strategy in which it has listed priorities to achieve the goal.

The priorities she cited include establishment of heavy, middle and small industries covering production of among other things, cement, garments, skin and leather, fertilizers and chemicals.

 “The government has started working on Liganga, Mchuchuma and Ngaka coal mines which will fast track the industrial development,” the deputy minister said.

She said at the moment, a total of 885 industries have already been established between 2005 up to last year.

However experts say more efforts are needed to address challenges facing the existing factories which are not producing at their optimum capacities.

Among the challenges cited include poor infrastructure, shortage of water and unreliable electricity as well as slow and expensive transportation of raw materials and final produce.

In another development, a  total of 219 villages and 112,992 farms in 56 districts countrywide have been surveyed and formalised by the Property and Business Formalisation Programme popularly known by its Kiswahili acronym , MKURABITA, parliament was informed yesterday.

Minister of State in the President’s Office (Social Relations and Coordination) Stephen Wasira gave the figures when responding to a question by Mohamed Misanga, Singida West Legislator (CCM).

 The MP had wanted to know the number of people who have benefited since commencement of the Programme.

Responding, Wasira said of the surveyed farms, 93,118 produce food crops and 19,874 cash crops mainly tea, sugarcane, cashew nut and sisal.

He said the programme was formed to enable individuals and villages survey their lands and get title deeds.

However he admitted that the programme has failed to reach all intended villages explaining that the short come was due to various challenges including shortage of funds.

In Tanzania mainland MKURABITA has been implemented in Tanga, Mwanza, Mbeya, Iringa and Morogoro while in Zanzibar and Pemba implementation is in Mjini Magharibi, Mjini Kaskazini, Unguja, Chakechake, Micheweni, Wete and Pemba Kaskazini.

It is undertaken by district councils in collaboration with other government organs including TRA, the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA), all social security funds and insurance authorities and firms.