DODOMA — THE government has allocated 285.3bn/- for sports development, with a focus on building standard stadia to stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
As Tanzania gets prepared to cohost the event with Kenya and Uganda, the Finance Minister, Mwigulu Nchemba, disclosed the amount while presenting the National Budget that totals 49.3 tri/-.
Of the said amount, 285.3bn/- has been assigned to the Culture, Arts, and Sports sector, representing a significant increase from the previous year’s budget of 35.4bn/.
This indicates a substantial increase of 250bn/- for the ministry.
“The preparation of teams requires the availability of standard stadiums. The government is prepared to construct new stadiums and rehabilitate some of the existing ones. Regarding the quality of the pitches, the government has already enacted a law that provides tax exemptions for importation of turf and its equipment,” Minister Nchemba noted.
This heavy allocation underscores the government’s determination to bolster sports infrastructure nationwide, with a particular focus on stadium construction, renovation and the enhancement of sports facilities across the country.
During the budget presentation on May 23rd in Dodoma, Minister for Culture, Arts, and Sports, Damas Ndumbaro, outlined the ambitious plans set forth by the government.
“Notably, 125.29bn/- has been allocated for the development of the Arusha Sports Complex, signalling a significant investment in this key sporting venue,” he said.
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Additionally, substantial sums have been allocated for the enhancement of the Dodoma and Dar es Salaam sports complexes, amounting to 55.5bn/- and 26.5bn/- respectively.
Minister Ndumbaro emphasised that these initiatives align with the government’s broader vision to elevate sports infrastructure to international standards, providing athletes with optimal training and competition environments.
Beyond the major sports complexes, a notable allocation of 11.5 bn/- has been dedicated to the construction and improvement of sports infrastructure in various schools.
This moves underscores Tanzania’s commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering a culture of sporting excellence from grassroots levels.
Furthermore, the government has allocated 10.02 bn/- for the establishment of the Malya Sports Academy in Mwanza Region.
This academy is poised to become a beacon of excellence, offering specialised training programmes to groom future sports stars in Tanzania. In a bid to sustain and promote sports activities across the nation, the Sports Development Fund has received a substantial allocation of 8bn/-.
Additionally, 1.5bn/- has been set aside for the construction of the Malya Sports Development College, aimed at providing specialised education in sports management and development.
To provide to the holistic wellbeing of citizens, the budget includes provisions for the construction of state-of-the-art exercise and relaxation centres in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, with an allocation of 12 bn/- .
These centres are poised to promote a culture of physical fitness and recreational activities, contributing to a healthier populace.
Source: allafrica.com
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Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’
Monrovia — The Rwanda Minister of State responsible for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, cautioned that while the country is beginning to see positive signals in its fight against the Marburg virus, the outbreak is “not yet over”. He, however, expressed hope that “we are headed in that direction”. The minister said the epidemiology trend, since the disease was first discovered in the country more than a month ago, is moving towards fewer cases.
Dr. Butera, who was giving updates during an online briefing yesterday, said in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded while 14 people recovered from the disease. He said Rwanda was expanding its testing capacity with 16,000 people already inoculated against the disease.
The priority right now, Butera said, is “rapid testing and detection”.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease transmitted through human-to-human contact or contact with an infected animal. The fatality rate of cases, which has varied over the period, is more than 50%, according to the World Health Organization. WHO said the highest number of new confirmed cases in Rwanda were reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak. There’s been a “sharp decline” in the last few weeks, with the country now tackling over 60 cases.
At Thursday’s briefing, a senior official of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, said mpox – the other infectious disease outbreak that countries in the region are fighting – was been reported in 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest country to confirm a case. He said although no new cases have been recorded in recent weeks in several countries where outbreaks occurred previously – including Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon – Uganda confirmed its first Mpox death. This, he said, is one of two fatalities reported outside Central Africa.
Dr. Ngashi revealed that there was an increase in cases in Liberia and Uganda. He said mpox cases were still on an upward trend.
“The situation is not yet under control.”
Source: allafrica.com
