TWO ministers were yesterday compelled to make promises to resolve long standing water shortage and healthcare services in the Mererani mining area in Simanjiro District, Manyara Region.

Mohammed Mchengerwa, the Regional Administration and Local Governments state minister in the President’s Office (PO-RALG), and Jumaa Aweso, the Water minister, were pushed to do as much after Christopher ole Sendeka, the MP, raised the matter at a rally officiated by Amos Makalla, the NEC secretary for Ideology, Publicity and Training.

The CCM executive was on a tour to inspect implementation of the party's manifesto, assess the strength of its organs and mobilise for public participation in the upcoming local government elections.

He appealed to the Local Governments minister to facilitate the construction of a new health facility in Mererani, who told the rally that he would instruct that experts be sent to assess the situation, while the party is prepared to place 200m/- to commence the building effort.

He also pledged to visit the area as part of efforts to see that funds are allocated for the purpose this financial year, while the Water minister informed the NEC secretary that before the installation of a water pipeline the water supply agency would oversee the  use of trucks to deliver water to Mererani residents.

An official of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) advised that residents in the area put up water storage tanks as a temporary measure until assured water supply infrastructure is set up.

The party executive also informed the rally that he had spoken with a representative of the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), who promised to visit the area after their trip to find how to resolve road transport bottlenecks in the mining area.

He expressed satisfaction with progress in implementing the party election manifesto for polls 2020, insisting that the party is mindful of addressing lingering concerns and solving existing challenges.

Makalla, formerly a regional commissioner in the region, said that the party had retained trust among the people due to effective policies, asserting that CCM is ranked as one of the strongest parties globally and one of the more entrenched in Africa.

Fakii Lulandala, the DC, was confident of the pace of implementation of the election manifesto, citing progress in electrification and infrastructure development.

The number of villages connected with electricity has increased significantly in the past few years, with substantial funds allocated for water and road projects, he said.

The MP expressed gratitude for the funding received for education sector projects and road building, citing the need to build a dispensary within the Mererani wall area.

Improvements are needed in water services and road surfacing to reduce transportation costs, he said.

James ole Milya, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) pointed at challenges faced by people dependent on tanzanite mining. Diplomatic efforts by President Samia Suluhu Hassan had raised the country’s export channels and elevated the country’s global standing, he added.