Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has ordered a fresh review of an investigation into two buildings at Bunda District Hospital that have sunk, demanding accountability if negligence is found to have caused the structural failure.
Dr Mwigulu said the Government could not allow officials or contractors responsible for substandard public projects to escape accountability by simply being moved to other areas.
He issued the directive on Saturday, October 3, 2026, after inspecting the hospital project and speaking to residents at a public meeting in Nyamuswa, Bunda District, Mara Region.
“I have been told that the Minister of Health formed a team and that it carried out its work, while PCCB has also worked on the matter. I want those reports so that those who made these mistakes can be held accountable where they are,” Dr Mwigulu said.
“Damaging this district and then being transferred to damage another district is unacceptable.”
The Prime Minister said he had found two buildings that had sunk during his inspection, with officials attributing the problem to the presence of water at the site and clay soil.
But he questioned whether those factors had been properly considered before construction began.
“If they say the buildings have sunk because they were built near a water source, did the water source come after the foundation was built? Wasn't it already there?” he asked.
The remarks put renewed focus on how public construction projects are designed, supervised and certified before being handed over for use.
Dr Mwigulu said the Government would pursue the matter to establish what caused the buildings to sink and ensure that residents did not ultimately pay the price for failures in project implementation.
He also said the Government was mobilising additional funds to complete outstanding works at the hospital, which is expected to expand access to health services for residents of Bunda and surrounding areas.
The Bunda District Hospital project began on May 8, 2019, as part of the first phase of a programme to establish 67 council hospitals aimed at bringing hospital-level services closer to communities.
The Government has so far allocated TZS5.39 billion to the project.
The facility has already started providing outpatient, laboratory, maternal and child health, maternity, radiology, inpatient, eye, dental and emergency services.
Dr Mwigulu also said the Government was taking measures to address rising cement prices, including directing the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to remove tax on clinker, a key raw material used in cement production.
“I have directed the Tanzania Revenue Authority to remove tax on clinker, the raw material used in cement production, so that cement remains reliably available and its price becomes affordable,” he said.
He said cement prices had risen sharply in some parts of the country, reaching more than TZS25,000 and TZS27,000 per bag, while some regions had recorded prices of up to TZS32,000.
The Government's move is intended to improve the availability of clinker and reduce pressure on cement prices, which directly affect construction costs for households, businesses and public projects.
On health services, Dr Mwigulu warned against asking patients or their relatives to contribute money for fuel for government ambulances.
“We cannot have government vehicles with fuel, then ask people to contribute money for fuel for an ambulance meant to save patients' lives,” he said.
He directed members of the public who are asked to pay for ambulance fuel to report the matter to the relevant authorities.
The Prime Minister also ordered health facilities to prioritise emergency treatment over administrative procedures when critically ill patients arrive.
“When a seriously ill patient arrives, the first step is to take them straight to a bed and provide treatment. They can be registered after receiving first aid. Save the person's life first. Do not apply protocol at the expense of a life,” he said.
Dr Mwigulu further directed health officials to ensure that medicines and medical supplies purchased with public funds reach patients and are properly accounted for.
The directives come as the Government seeks to expand access to public health services while ensuring that funds allocated to infrastructure, medicines and other essential services deliver tangible benefits to citizens.