Source: TANZANIA 24
EFFORTS by women to engage in productive activities to fight poverty must be augmented by deliberate allocation of at least five per cent of district and municipal council's annual income.

Deputy Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr Aggrey Mwanri issued the directive in Kilimanjaro over the weekend and insisted that the fight against poverty requires determination and proper allocation of resources.

Mr Mwanri said adherence to the directive would make it possible to access soft loans to more women from their credit unions and improve their welfare.

The deputy minister gave the directive when speaking to members of Amani Credit Union in Naweru Village in Siha District. He said all councils should give the percentage of money set for women regardless of the amount of their annual revenue in each financial year.

He told the audience that in each country and society, development begins with women and that if women are empowered economically they can bring change to families and society.

Addressing the question of women's participation to alleviate poverty and build a strong economy, Mr Mwanry said it is imperative that they form credit unions and register them so that they can access loans.

He spoke of the need for credit union members to be active and innovative in forming business and avenues needed to prosper because it is an important way to survive in stiff competition that exists.

Mr Mwanri, who is also an MP for Siha, urged social welfare officers to extend their skills to residents in their areas so that they can tap every available opportunity for their development.

In their address to the deputy minister, Amani Credit Union's message read by Ms Juliana Nathai, said to date they have 5.5m/-. The union that was established last year has 32 members and has money in form of cash and shares.

• Tanzania