2 November 2008
Arusha — Hawkers, common by the name of Machinga, roaming Arusha's streets with all sorts of merchandise will soon settle down under one roof.
Thanks to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) which plans to put up a commercial building for petty traders in the Arusha municipality. The exact location is yet to be known.
Labour, Employment and Youth Development Deputy Minister Dr. Makongoro Mahanga told parliament in Dodoma on Wednesday that a similar structure would also be constructed in Mwanza city.
He was responding to a question by a Special Seat MP, Maria Hewa who wanted to know whether NSSF had taken heed of the advice by a special committee on Social Welfare, Gender and Children to construct buildings for various projects including for petty traders in Arusha and Mwanza.
Dr. Mahanga said that NSSF had applied for land in the two cities to enable it put up the complexes for small-scale businessmen. Mwanza municipal council had already reserved 1.5 hectares of land for the project at Mlango Mmoja saying NSSF experts had accepted to carry out the project.
As for Arusha, Mahanga said plans were underway to find land for the project.
Meanwhile, the government has said it will provide vocational skills to youths in prisons to enable them engage in self employment.
Labour, Employment and Youth Development Minister Juma Kapuya said when responding to a supplementary question by Vedastus Manyinyi (Musoma Rural) who wanted to know plans of the government to equip youths especially prisoners in terms of employment, saying most youths now felt prison life was better due to the government improving basic needs like food and shelter.
In his response the minister said youths like other Tanzanians had the right to basic needs even while in prison.
"The government is working to improve prison facilities. Prison is a place where youths are supposed to acquire vocational skills to enable them become productive once they complete their terms," Kapuya was quoted by the Guardian.
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