PRESIDENT
Jakaya Kikwete yesterday admitted that drug trafficking and abuse
remain one of the key challenges facing his government, warning that the
government had set up viable mechanisms to nab the offenders.
The president also acknowledged that ivory poaching, which has tainted the country’s image in the recent past, is one of the threats the government will deal with in efforts to improve relations with other countries.
“We will intensify the fight against narcotic drugs trafficking and abuse as well as the fight against poaching and ivory trade,” he said.
Speaking during a New Year Sherry Party, hosted for heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations in state house yesterday, the president termed 2013 as being very eventful, some happy events and some sad.
The president cited other challenges facing the government as provision of clean water to the public, saying only 67 percent of rural population had access to water compared to 61 percent in urban areas.
“This is the sector we have resolved to give special attention this year and in the next two years,” the president said.
On the same note, the president assured the international community that the current traffic jam in the city, currently posing serious challenge will be eased by the end of the once the rapid bus transit project is complete.
On a positive note, Dr. Kikwete said the government has scaled up power generation this year compared previous years, saying at least 24 percent of the rural population is connected with electricity.
The head of state also noted that Tanzania experienced economic growth of 7.1 percent in 2013 compared to 6.9 percent growth in 2012, adding, “We expect economic growth of 7.3 percent in 2014”.
He promised that the government would do everything possible to lower inflation rate to five percent or below by June this year.
On food security, the president said the country had surplus grain production though some parts of the country experienced food shortage, however saying there is no cause for alarm as the government would take care of it.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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