Tanzania: Tobacco Firm Donates Desks Worth Sh16m

Source from:  The Citizen  03/15/2013

The problem of shortage of desks at various primary and secondary schools in Uyui District, Tabora Region, should soon become a thing of the past as a tobacco firm has come in to help.

Tanzania Leaf Tobacco Company Limited (TLTC) has donated part of its 175 desks worth Sh15.75 million to Ilalwansimba Primary School as part of a total of Sh53.3 million worth of desks and classrooms to be donated by the company to various primary and secondary schools in the district. This won the praise of the Uyui District Commissioner, Ms Lucy Thomas Mayenga, who presided at the desk hand-over ceremony recently.

"This is how companies that operate in Uyui should do...they should share their profits with the community through donations such as this one," said Ms Mayenga.Other schools to benefit from the TLTC assistance include Imalampaka, Itundaukulu and Kalemela whose desks would be delivered soon.

Uyui District is home to 114 primary schools with a combined enrolment of 72,874 pupils, but desks and classrooms remain one of the major challenges.

The tobacco company's director of Treasury and Administration, Mr Silvester Kapungu, said TLTC was making donations because they felt they were part of development partners in the district, and that it was this position which has propelled them to not only make donations, but also to pay levies diligently as required.

During the past crop season, for instance, TLTC purchased 4.5 million kilos worth $8,310,951 (Sh13 billion) Kapungu said, adding that the company had consequently paid out Sh648.3 million in levies to Uyui District.

Kapungu noted that the TLTC's has continued to support Uyui district in areas of water, education and health in line with the company's laid down policy. Citing example, he said or the past two crop seasons, the company's support to education amounted to Sh53.3 million and was spent on desks, construction and refurbishment of classrooms. Enditem