President Jakaya Kikwete has directed the Ministry of Finance to exempt tax on a consignment of Artificial Turf to be laid at the historic Nyamagana Stadium.
President Jakaya Kikwete
The consignment offered by the world football governing body, FIFA, is currently languishing at the Dar es Salaam port, waiting for clearance.
The president made the remarks here, when officially opening this year’s national Inter-Secondary Schools Games, UMISSETA, hosted by Mwanza region, at the CCM Kirumba Stadium.
Speaking during the opening ceremony on behalf of the president, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) owes the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) 200m/- in tax, to clear the artificial turf consignment.
He said he will make sure the consignment reaches Mwanza and is laid at the stadium with immediate effect so as to improve its standard.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the state of various venues in the country, saying the majority are in pathetic condition and need major repair.
“Many playgrounds in the country are in bad condition, so there should be initiatives to improve them for the benefit of sports development,” the president said.
The issue rose after the Mwanza Regional Commissioner (RC), Magesa Mulongo, appealed to the government to consider exempting tax on the artificial turf consignment for Nyamagana Stadium.
Kikwete further said having quality stadia and playgrounds around the country, will to a great extent help propel sports development and enable the nation to produce competent sportsmen and women, who will compete effectively at the international level.
He also emphasised the importance of UMISSETA Games in unearthing raw talents, saying the government will continue making sure that the annual event takes place smoothly and effectively.
Speaking at the same occasion, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Hawa Ghasia, said the competition has brought together over 1,500 students from 12 zones across the country, competing in eight sports disciplines.
She said that all games are taking place at the Butimba Teachers’ Training College venue and requested the trainers to spot talents and help in developing them. She also appealed to different sports associations and clubs to grab the opportunity by turning up to identify talents and recruit them.
Hosts Lake Zone are the overall defending champions. The zone emerged winners in last year’s Games staged in Kibaha, Coast Region.
Event coordinator Mohamed Kiganja had earlier said games that will feature in the event are soccer for boys and girls, netball, volleyball, athletics, javelin, shot put and basketball.
He said a high level of competitiveness is expected to be on show in this year’s event, given that many teams have made themselves available for the Games.
Kiganja said the national inter-primary school games, UMITASHUMTA, will take place for two weeks shortly after the conclusion of the UMISSETA Games.
He insisted that all schools should prepare well for both events. He said with the Lake Zone having won the top honour in last year’s Games, the organisers want other zones to step up their performance and bolster competitiveness this year.
By MOSES MATTHEW, Tanzania Daily News