The government in its 2005/06 budget has set aside Tsh. 350 billion for villages countrywide under the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (MKUKUTA). Each village will receive Tsh. 135 million. Do you think the money will be used wisely?

NO. I think the funds will end up in the hands of a few clever persons. I am saying this because, I am not sure if the government, before committing itself to such a heavy initiative, conducted any research to see if the project will be practicable. Right now when there is very few projects in villages, the available officers are not able to manage them properly. It seems that the government’s initiative come at the right time although preparations are not enough.
Kisunga Msongo – Entrepreneur.

NO. I don’t think the funds will reach the beneficiaries. Through experience, most rural dwellers are illiterate. This is one reason why most grants focused on villages end up in the stomachs of the few ‘educated’ village dwellers. In villages, it is a sin to question the income and expenditure; as a result most villagers keep quite for fear of being reprimanded by the ‘village elites’ who control the funds.
Nzali Patrick – Counselor.

NO. I am afraid, although the government’s intention is good, the funds won’t benefit the intended population – the villagers. This is because most villagers by now have very little education on entrepreneurship skills. I am not sure if the funds will just be disbursed to anybody, otherwise the meaning of such a development funding won’t make any sense. Experts say that at least 20,000 entrepreneurs cum project managers are needed to man this grand project. Unless the government embarks on training these, the money won‘t benefit those intended.
Salim Hussein – Educator.

YES. I think the funds will reach the designated beneficiaries. I am saying this because it is civil society and NGOs that take a greater part in dispensing such funds and managing the projects thereon. The government is pulling out of business so there is no need of thinking much of the government. We have district councils which have done commendable jobs in handling funds not only from the government but also from institutions such as TACAIDS. What is needed is the creation of monitoring machinery and all will be well.
Titus S. Mondile – Ward Executive Officer.

Compiled by Timothy Kitundu.