Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Hiroshi Nakagawa :education key to development

By Elias Mhegera
JAPANESE Government has yet more extended its development partnership after granting assistance for grassroots human security projects. The signing ceremony was conducted at the ambassador’s residence, Kenyatta Drive.

Speaking before invited guests, the Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania Hiroshi Nakagawa said that the first three projects are to construct three girls’ hostels in three regions; namely, Mipa Secondary School in Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region; Namswea Secondary School in Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region; and Kinyangiri Secondary School in Iramba District, Singida Region.

Moreover the fourth project is to construct four wells in the four villages at Mangaka Town in Nanyumbu District, Mtwara Region.
The last project is to supply a new sterilizer to the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) in Dar es Salaam.

The ceremony was attended by a high powered delegation from the Tanzania’s Government by Gaudence Kayombo, Member of Parliament for Mbinga East; and his counterpart Ms Salome Mwambu, Member of Parliament for Iramba East. The occasion was also attended by Anselin Tarimo, Regional Administrative Secretary for Ruvuma Region.

This time, a total of four hundred and fifty-one thousand, five hundred and fifty-eight US dollars ($ 451,558) has been provided for the implementation of these five projects. This was in response to the basic human needs education being fundamental, and it is indispensable in improving people’s lives.

The ambassador said that education benefits not only the individual life, but the country itself, as improved knowledge and skills are expected to accelerate economic development in a country. Under the Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP), the enrollment rate at Secondary education level has increased in recent years.

The Japanese ambassador to Tanzania said that the construction of three girls’ hostels will provide safer and better learning environments to female students in Kishapu, Mbinga and Iramba districts, and that those girls who benefit from it will grow up to contribute to their country’s development in the near future.

He emphasized on the need for improved access to safe and clean water. He warned that the lack of safe water negatively affects the quality of medical care service at hospitals in the region, and that the project for four wells at Mangaka Town will enhance people’s access to safe and clean water, and improve their quality of life. After the completion, it is estimated that approximately ten thousand and four hundred (10,400) people will have improved access to safe water.

On their side the recipient institutions thanked the Japanese Government for its continued support to development initiatives. The Iramba East legislator Ms Salome Mwambu said that the assistance has come in an opportune time due to the fact that there are students who had to walk long distances in her constituency due to lack of accommodation.

From Kishapu, Theonas Nyamhanga who is the district executive director (DED) said that his district is facing similar problems and he appreciated the fact that the Japanese Government could still assist Tanzania a few months after it had faced natural calamities early this year.
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