TASAF to trim undeserving beneficiaries

Plans are underway to prune out beneficiaries of the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) grants whose poverty status have improved, to pave the way for more poor households to be enrolled in the programme.

TASAF Executive Director, Mr Ladislaus Mwamanga, observed this in Uwemba village when the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and Local Government Affairs was inspecting projects which are under their supervision.

“A strategy has been prepared in collaboration with the Development Partners ((DPs) whereby the beneficiaries will be given an opportunity to give their views before implementation begins,” said Mr Mwamanga. He said for the beneficiaries whose poverty status have improved, they will be given a grace period of six months before the official removal.

“The maximum time limit in the programme is three years; in that case you should be reminded to work hard to improve your status so as to graduate. The Acting Chairman of the Committee, Mr Venance Mwamoto, who is the Kilolo Member of Parliament (MP - CCM), hailed TASAF for the good job, noting that they were satisfied with the construction of the 74m/- two in one house for teachers at Uwemba Primary School.

“Beneficiaries have demonstrated their eagerness to move further by engaging in different economic activities, particularly farming as well as managing to from savings groups,” noted Mr Mwamoto. Based on their efforts, the committee decided to support the eight groups by giving each group 100,000/-, who also returned the favour by giving the MPs gifts consisting of farming produce.

Njombe Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Christopher Ole Sendeka, said the president is aspiring to remove his people out of abject poverty and it has been demonstrated through the TASAF programme. Mr Sendeka pledged continuous support for all the beneficiaries who deserve to be in the programme.

However, the Minister of State in the President’s Office -Public Service Management and Good Governancem - Ms Angellah Kairuki, was touched by the story of Rebecca Mdamu (39), a beneficiary of TASAF, who was abandoned by her husband and was left with four children.