TASAF used 2.2 bn/- to upgrade Lindi, Mtwara

Marine and Costal Environment Management Project (MACEMP) has used at least 2.2 billion/- to enable residents along the Indian Ocean coastline to improve their life standards through various development projects as well as enabling them to succeed in legitimate fishing activities.

The project which is jointly carried out by the government and Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) has helped residents along the coastline to purchase modern fishing gears.

Deputy Minister for Livestock Development and Fishing, Benedict Ole Nangoro told the National Assembly that under the scheme, MACEMP has funded 157 minor projects of which 100 of them are in Lindi and 50 in Mtwara.

“The scheme has benefited a total of 3121people, 1318 of them women…. In this context, the projects are raised within the communities,” he said.

According to him, through MACEMP the government has bought 12 speedy boats of which 3 and 7 boats were given to Mtwara and Lindi regions respectively while 2 boats were given to Mtwara patrol station.

The boats have enabled Mtwara and Lindi councils as well as the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MBREMP) to patrol so as to put an end to illegal fishing in their respective marines.

Ole Nangoro was reacting to a question raised by Fatma Mikidadi (Special-Seats CCM) who instigated the government to provide speedy boats for marine patrol in the south zone as well as criticising the government’s failure in providing alternative fishing gears to those caught fishing illegitimately