TANZANIA URGED TO OPEN UP NEW ECONOMIC SECTORS

By Patty Magubira, The Citizen Reporter

Arusha. Tanzania has to open up new sectors of the economy if the country is to realise its pipe dream of becoming a middle economy in a decade’s time to come.

“Why do we have all the resources at our disposal, yet we cannot create sectors of economy,” wondered Meena Pandit, director of design with Phils International, a privately owned real estate firm registered in Tanzania and United Arabs Emirates.

Ms Pandit said Dubai though lacked oil, had created three vibrant sectors of its economy, namely services, construction, and tourism.

“No one could imagine skiing could take place in a desert, but with an amazing mountain-themed winter setting at Ski Dubai it has become a reality,” she said.

Ms Pandit was addressing members of the Arusha Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) shortly before she briefed them on Usa River Satellite City which Phils International is about to construct in collaboration with the NHC.

Besides real estate and land development, Phils International, a firm founded by Tanzanian professionals, also deals with master planning, feasibility and business planning, architectural design, building services, landscaping design, and project and construction management, among others.

Arusha regional commissioner Felix Ntibenda commended the Usa River Satellite City, saying the NHC project would, among other things, go a long way in ensuring justice prevailed in the country.

“There can be no justice if all magistrates and police officers share rented apartments with ordinary citizens, including suspected criminals,” Mr Ntibenda explained.

The regional commissioner cautioned civil servants over frustrating investors such as Phils International, promising that he would issue his hot line for members of the public to report on officials with such attitude directly to him.

NHC regional manager for Arusha James Kisarika assured the RCC members that the state-owned real estate corporation was determined to meet the country’s yawning demand for housing in the near future.

“When housing becomes like sugar or any other readily available commodity, illegal brokers cashing in the NHC buildings will become redundant,” Mr Kisarika said.

He refuted allegations that NHC officials were colluding with middlemen in hiking rents of houses belonging to the parastatal.

CREDIT SOURCE: THE CITIZEN