The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Prof. Riziki Shemdoe, has commended Special Seats Member of Parliament for Rukwa Region, Jacqueline Mzindakaya, for coordinating stakeholders to facilitate economic empowerment training for citizens in the region.
Prof. Shemdoe said Mzindakaya’s efforts in bringing together key partners, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC), the Rukwa Regional Administration and local government authorities, had created an important platform for citizens to access information on capital opportunities and economic empowerment services.
He made the remarks on July 13, 2026, at Country Hotel in Sumbawanga while officially opening the training on access to capital opportunities and economic empowerment services on behalf of Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba.
The training was organised by MP Mzindakaya in collaboration with NEEC and aims to equip citizens with knowledge and skills to utilise available financial opportunities, expand businesses and improve productivity.
Prof. Shemdoe said the initiative marked an important step towards accelerating economic development in Rukwa Region, urging participants to use the knowledge gained to establish new businesses, strengthen existing enterprises, increase production and add value to agricultural products.
He noted that the programme was designed to benefit all groups in society, including people with disabilities, youth, women and other special groups involved in agriculture, livestock keeping, fishing, petty trading, motorcycle transport services, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship.
The minister directed regional and local government authorities across the country to allocate office spaces for economic empowerment centres that would provide citizens with information, guidance and links to available funding opportunities.
“I direct all regional and local government offices across the country to follow Rukwa’s example by establishing economic empowerment centres that will enable citizens to access information, advice and connections to capital and empowerment opportunities,” Prof. Shemdoe said.
He added that such centres would help citizens overcome economic challenges and contribute to building a stronger, competitive and inclusive national economy.
Rukwa Regional Commissioner Makongoro Nyerere thanked Prof. Shemdoe for representing Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba at the event, saying his presence demonstrated the government’s commitment to empowering youth, women, people with disabilities and other special groups economically.
MP Mzindakaya said Prof. Shemdoe’s participation as the Prime Minister’s representative reflected the government’s recognition of efforts aimed at improving citizens’ economic wellbeing.
Meanwhile, Acting Executive Secretary of NEEC, Gwakisa Bapala, said the training would help citizens benefit from various empowerment funds and programmes designed to support new projects, expand businesses, add value to products and stimulate economic growth in Rukwa and Tanzania at large.
The training, which will be conducted across all four councils in Rukwa Region from July 13 to 16, 2026, targets more than 1,000 citizens.
Participants will receive information on financing and support opportunities available through 15 institutions and funds, including NMB, CRDB, Azania Bank, Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), Agricultural Inputs Trust Fund (AGITF), Self Microfinance Fund, Bank of Tanzania (BoT), Machinga Fund, Youth Development Fund (YDF), Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), PASS Trust, PASS Leasing, EFTA, TaFF and the Culture and Arts Fund.
