KIBAHA: KIBAHA Municipal Council in Coast Region has disbursed 991.5m/- in interest-free loans to 51 groups comprising women, youth and persons with disabilities during the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, in a move aimed at expanding economic opportunities, supporting business growth and reducing poverty.
Of the total amount, 359m/- was allocated to 17 women’s groups, 557m/- to 25 youth groups and 75m/- to nine groups of persons with disabilities.
Speaking during the handover ceremony on Wednesday, Kibaha Urban Constituency Member of Parliament, Mr Silvestry Koka said the loans are a vital tool for economic empowerment, particularly for residents who struggle to access capital due to stringent requirements imposed by financial institutions.
He urged the council to continue providing entrepreneurship and financial management training to ensure beneficiaries invest the funds productively and repay the loans on time.
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“There are many residents with the ability to run businesses but who lack capital because they do not meet the requirements for bank loans. Through these municipal loans, we are opening doors to economic opportunities and helping reduce poverty among our people,” Mr Koka said.
For his part, Kibaha District Commissioner, Mr Nickson Simon called on beneficiaries to exercise discipline and ensure the funds are used for their intended purposes.
“Money is like blood in an economy. When it circulates effectively, it stimulates business growth, increases production and improves people’s livelihoods. It is important that these loans are directed towards productive activities rather than unplanned expenditure,” he said.
Earlier, Kibaha Municipal Council Director, Dr Rogers Shemwelekwa disclosed that the council had already disbursed a total of 2.1bn/- to 457 special groups during the 2025/26 financial year. He said that of the total amount, 1.09bn/- was allocated to 275 women’s groups, 904.5m/- to 161 youth groups and 158.8m/- to groups of persons with disabilities.
Dr Shemwelekwa noted that the continued disbursement of loans demonstrates the Government’s commitment to empowering citizens economically through the allocation of local government revenue to special groups. He added that the initiative is helping increase participation in productive economic activities while supporting efforts to improve household incomes and livelihoods.