PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has instructed Mzumbe University to reinstate its programme for training various public officials, including courses for functions of permanent secretaries and ministerial directors, to make top leadership more efficient.

In remarks after laying the foundation stone for new lecture theatres, seminar rooms, hostels and administrative buildings at Maekani Campus, the president noted that she was a Mzumbe University graduate, just like Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, a former chief secretary, and Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, the CCM secretary general.

The training that public officials received was relevant to their roles, she stated, asserting that this enhanced their efficiency, pledging to secure additional funds to support setting up of new infrastructure and facilities at the leading public administration training institution.

She expressed satisfaction with the efforts by the university to use its own funds to put up new buildings that were being flagged off, while undertaking significant renovations of existing structures.

 “I am really pleased with Mzumbe. When I graduated here in 1986, we used to stay in the Matola hostels, but now I see major renovations carried out with internal funds,” she told the gathering.

Vice-Chancellor Prof William Mwegoha said that construction of new buildings costing 4.8bn/- has started in the Maekani area, with intent to lift enrolment from 15,000 to 40,000 students.

There are also programmes to train senior government officials where dedicated training facilities will be instituted within the new buildings, he said, while the minister, Prof Adolf Mkenda, affirmed that developments at Mzumbe University are not isolated.

They are part of a nationwide initiative across public universities to improve infrastructure and build new facilities using internal funds, to ensure that government funds are effectively used to strengthen the teaching and learning environment to provide quality education.

Mohamed Mchengerwa, the Regional Administration and Local Governments state minister in the President's Office (PO-RALG) appealed to heads of education departments at the regional, district and municipal levels across the country to build stalls for small traders.

They should operate freely while adhering to regulations, he said, as the president launched a five-year ‘mutual care’ drive backed up by a land use plan project to end conflicts between herders and farmers.

The president awarded three trophies and three certificates to stakeholder and participant groups targeted by the ‘mutual care’ programme in Mvomero District, where the minister asked the Mvomero District Council to use not more than two months to build stalls for small-scale traders in designated areas.

They should conduct their trading activities without obstruction he said, referring to guidelines set by the president for regional and district administrations to engage with various community groups/

These instructions have been disseminated to all councils, he said, saying small traders, food vendors, motorcycle and tricycle riders are all targeted by the trading space demand.