Lowassa pledges modern houses for all

Chadema Presidential contender Edward Lowassa has pledged provision of descent housing for Tanzanians saying he will abolish mud and grass-thatched houses currently predominant in a reputedly rich-resourced country if he wins the October general elections.

The party presidential flag bearer who also represents the Coalition for the Defence of People’s Constitution (UKAWA) made the pledge when addressing a rally at full-packed Community Centre grounds in Kigoma Municipality on Friday, saying if elected the fifth president he would make swift changes in the housing state of affairs that the Tanzanian majority would be sheltered in modern roofed houses.

“I’m uncomfortable at seeing the majority of still living in mud and grass-thatched houses, when our country is full of resources,” he told the cheering crowd.

“I’m determined to bring total change in this nation so that life of our people will match that of the developed world,” he said, reflecting “descent houses for all” pledge in Ukawa’s election manifesto.

Chadema’s 2010 election manifesto also included provision of better shelter by reducing tax and prices for building construction items including cement and iron sheets.Lowassa also vowed to build palm oil processing industries in Kigoma Region to promote one of that major currency earning products in the region.

“I wish Kigoma was a leading exporter of palm oil in East and Central African region. It will provide employment to youth as well as raising people’s living standards,” he said.

He frowned at the notion that Kigoma looked like a “landlocked” piece of a vast land despite its potential outlets to the neighbouring states and potential access to the Indian Ocean eastward, saying he would get the area rid of the blockade by building a modern port along Lake Tanganyika and modernise the Central Railway line.

“It’s about rebuilding the Central Railway line connecting Kigoma with Dar es Salaam, a port for easy access to the Great Lakes countries and improving road infrastructures in the region,” he said.

Yearning for votes from the people reputed for their endless outcry over poverty and government neglect, the battling candidate also pledged to provide them with clean water and reliable electricity once elected into the State House.

“After all it will be impossible to fulfil my promise to set up agro-processing industries in Kigoma, in the absence of reliable power and clean water,” he argued.

Backing Lowassa, Chadema parliamentary contender for Kigoma Urban constituency Daniel Lumenyela said he will join the course of his presidential flag bearer to address the water woes and improve transportation in Lake Tanganyika, saying “the situation is so appalling as we rely on only one ship too old to survive the next 10 years, before it sinks to drown thousands.”

He said, like Lowassa also vowed to make Kigoma a reckoned industrial centre in Western Tanzania, given its potential economic resources, saying “we’re a strategic point from where goods can be easily exported to Zambia, Congo (DRC), Burundi and other neighbouring countries.”

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY