Tanzania: Kilosa Villagers Get Support

Source from:  All Africa 03/04/2011

Kilosa - THE Tanzania Leaf Tobacco Company Limited (TLTC) and the Rotary Club Morogoro have jointly contributed 24 solar panels to Mabwegere Village in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, worth 70m/-. The Morogoro Regional Administrative Secretary, Mr Stephen Bushiri, who represented the Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, at the occasion handed over the equipment to the villagers. The minister urged the village community, who are predominantly pastoralists, to build permanent modern houses to be able to benefit from such contributions. "This project will go a long way in finding a lasting solution to endless conflicts between pastoralists and farmers in Kilosa District as you will live together and undertake various joint projects", he said. He asked the villagers to take care of the solar power project. He also used the occasion to thank the Rotary Club Morogoro Central for providing the village with water wells. On his part, TLTC Group Corporate Director Mr Richard Andrew Sinamtwa said the company was committed to support the communities irrespective of their direct contribution to the tobacco industry. Under the partnership agreement, the villagers contributed 1.3m/-, Rotary Club Morogoro Central donated 400,000/- while TLTC paid the balance. Mr Sinamtwa said the project has provided power to four Mabwegere Primary schoolteachers' houses, village office, five villagers' houses and the village community centre. Speaking at the same occasion, Rotary Club Morogoro Central President, Prof. Aurelia Temba, said the villagers will now be able to get their power and water supply needs within the same vicinity. The village is located some 80 kilometres away from Morogoro town. Enditem