DODOMA: PRIME Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has directed local government authorities to identify and support centres caring for children with special needs and other vulnerable groups, urging Tanzanians to reduce reliance on foreign aid to sustain such institutions.
He said the country has reached a stage where people and institutions must take greater responsibility for supporting vulnerable members of society through locally mobilised resources.
Speaking yesterday at a fundraising event for the completion of a commercial building project owned by the Anglican Church of Tanzania in Dodoma, Dr Nchemba said the era of relying on external assistance for social welfare programmes should come to an end.
“The era of depending on aid is over. Even in the national budget, President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan has continued to emphasise the importance of a budget that relies on the country’s own resources,” he said.
The Prime Minister called on all councils nationwide to compile registers of centres caring for children with special needs and vulnerable children and to develop practical mechanisms for supporting them.
He stressed that public institutions should move beyond the practice of merely issuing recommendation letters whenever such centres seek assistance from government offices.
“Instead of directing them elsewhere to seek support, we should look at how we can help them through our own resources and systems,” he said.
Dr Nchemba said that for many years, orphanages and centres supporting children with special needs have depended heavily on foreign donors, a practice he said Tanzania must now outgrow.
He said strengthening domestic support systems would help ensure the sustainability of services for vulnerable children and reduce uncertainty associated with donor funding.
The Prime Minister also urged Tanzanians to continue embracing teachings from religious leaders, particularly those promoting peace, unity and national cohesion, saying such values remain essential for national development.
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He further noted that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had commended the Anglican Church of Tanzania for investing in an income-generating project, saying economic growth remains a key priority in the country’s development agenda.
“The president appreciates the church’s efforts because economic growth is among the important goals of national development,” he said.
Earlier, Secretary General of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, Canon Dr George Lawi, said the church initiated the commercial project in Dodoma to strengthen its financial sustainability and reduce reliance on external support.
He said the project aims to create steady income streams to enable the church to deliver its spiritual and social services more effectively.
“The building is expected to provide various services, including hotel accommodation and office space, thereby contributing to the growth of both the church and the national economy,” he said.
Dr Lawi said the project is in its final stages of construction and has already cost about 3bn/-, with an additional 1.5bn/- required for completion. “That is why we organised today’s fundraising event,” he said.
He added that the Anglican Church of Tanzania will continue working closely with the government in promoting sustainable development through education, health services, community empowerment and moral guidance. More than 1bn/- was raised during the fundraising drive.