President Jakaya Kikwete has directed local government authorities to promptly report cases of food shortages in their respective areas, to enable the central government to take appropriate measures to mitigate the crises before they escalate and get out of proportion.
President Jakaya Kikwete
Addressing a series of public rallies during his official tour of Bariadi, Meatu, Maswa and Busega districts in Simiyu Region at the weekend, the president reiterated the need for the local leaders to report food scarcities in their respective areas, to enable government to take urgent remedial action including emergency supplies.
“I have been hearing the grievances in different places in my tours across the country, with people complaining about food shortages while local leaders strived to hide the problem,” Mr Kikwete observed.
He pointed out that it is the role of leaders and other executives to issue accurate reports on both food security and shortage to the government instead of seeking cheap popularity by staying quiet. ‘’We can’t tolerate such crop of leaders and executives,’’ he added.
President Kikwete reported that the government has in the meantime been buying food and stocked it in the strategic grain reserve and supplying it through the Emergency Unit in the Prime Minister’s Office.
He appealed to all concerned leaders to report to higher authorities in case of food shortages to ensure nobody dies of hunger.
The president called on Tanzanians to maintain the habit of cultivating food crops that can withstand drought instead of those that solely depend on rains as a ‘safety measure’ in cases of prolonged drought.
By MOSES MATTHEW, Tanzania Daily News
