WITH just three weeks remaining before Tanzanians head to the polls, CCM presidential candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan has concluded her campaign trail across the Northern Zone and is now camped in the Lake Zone. Her mission: to transform the regions into vibrant corridors of industrial growth, tourism excellence, and agricultural prosperity.

Throughout her Northern Zone tour, Samia’s message has been clear and consistent — Tanzania’s next phase of development will be rooted in jobs, investment, and opportunities that uplift communities across all sectors.

In Arusha, the economic and tourism hub of northern Tanzania, she pledged to further develop the city into a world-class investment and tourism centre through massive infrastructure and service upgrades.

Addressing thousands of supporters at Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium early last week, Samia outlined her vision to prioritise investments in airports, railways, air transport, hospitality facilities, and convention centres to unlock the region’s full potential.

“Arusha is Tanzania’s face of tourism, but it is also a region of agriculture and pastoralism. We want no one to be left behind in our development journey,” she declared.

Samia emphasised that to sustain the fast-growing tourism sector, deliberate efforts would be made to attract major international and local investors to build high-quality hotels, lodges, and other accommodation facilities.

She reiterated that Tanzania’s ambition to receive eight million tourists by 2030 will require expansion of the current hospitality capacity and the construction of new world-class facilities that meet global standards.

To this end, she assured investors that her government will maintain a conducive business environment by offering policy incentives and improving infrastructure such as airports, roads, and railways.

“We are ready to partner with serious investors who will bring in modern facilities that meet international demands,” she said, adding that such ventures would boost tourism, create jobs, increase foreign exchange earnings, and raise Tanzania’s global profile.

As part of efforts to complement industrial development, Samia revealed plans for a soda ash production factory in Monduli District, which will provide raw materials for cement and other construction-related industries.

She further announced that the government had invested TSh 17 billion in upgrading Arusha Airport to operate 24 hours a day, while Lake Manyara Airport has undergone an TSh 88 billion overhaul. Additional projects include the construction of a new International Convention Centre, a five-star hotel, and a Historical Geological Centre at Ngorongoro Lengai to promote Tanzania’s cultural and natural heritage.

“These developments will not only attract more international visitors but also create thousands of jobs for our youth,” she said.

Samia also addressed challenges in the floriculture sector, revealing that some farms — including Kili Flora, Arusha Blooms, and Kili Flower Nduruma — have remained idle for years. A government task force, she said, has been assigned to review ownership documents and evaluate performance.

“If no progress is made, these farms will be repossessed and integrated into the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) programme for youth-led agribusiness,” she announced. Portions of the land will also support urban farming and affordable housing projects for Arusha residents.

At the Namanga One-Stop Border Post, Samia pledged to install modern scanners and digital systems to facilitate trade and tourism between Tanzania and Kenya. She reaffirmed her government’s commitment to completing major road projects and advancing plans for the Tanga–Arusha–Musoma Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which will position Arusha as a key logistics and transport hub.

In Kilimanjaro and Tanga Regions, Samia focused on reviving dormant factories and underutilised farms. She directed the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office, to review all privatised sisal estates and factories that have remained inactive for years.

“Factories and farms that are not functioning will be repossessed and handed over to cooperatives or investors ready to develop them,” she declared, stressing that the government will no longer tolerate unproductive land and idle industrial assets.

She highlighted her administration’s progress in expanding water access through major projects such as Same–Mwanga–Korogwe, Uroki–Bomang’ombe, and Rombo Water Project, worth billions of shillings. These initiatives, she said, aim to ensure clean and reliable water for households and agriculture.

The CCM candidate underscored her government’s ongoing commitment to agricultural modernisation, which includes greater access to subsidised inputs, irrigation systems, and reliable crop markets to strengthen the sector’s contribution to the economy.

In Manyara Region, Samia’s message focused on reviving wheat production, rebuilding infrastructure, and expanding access to clean water and electricity. Addressing a rally in Kateshi, Hanang District, she praised residents for their resilience following past disasters that affected homes and farms.

She pledged to enhance productivity by providing improved seeds, mechanised farming tools, and stable markets to ensure farmers earn fair returns for their efforts. The government, she added, continues to invest heavily in irrigation systems, rural roads, and agro-industries to empower farmers and boost food security.

Samia further promised to strengthen vocational training centres to equip young people with practical skills needed in Tanzania’s growing industries — from energy and construction to ongoing projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and oil and gas development.

While in Babati Town Council, Samia vowed to invest massively in rural infrastructure, pledging the construction of roads, bridges, and processing factories to accelerate economic growth and improve social service delivery nationwide.

She said her government would prioritise connecting remote villages with district and regional centres through modern tarmac and gravel roads. “We are determined to build modern roads and bridges to ease the movement of farm produce, reduce transport costs, and expand market access. Rural areas must be fully integrated into the national economy,” she stated.

She cited the planned 453-kilometre Arusha–Simanjiro–Kongwa road and the 90-kilometre Nangwa–Kondoa road as flagship projects that will open up Manyara Region and strengthen inter-regional trade.

Over the past five years, Samia noted, the government has invested over TSh 700 billion in Manyara Region alone, achieving notable progress. Among these achievements are 1,633 new water projects nationwide, benefiting over 12.5 million people. In Manyara, a 40bn/-water project drawing from the Ruvu River has brought major relief to residents in Simanjiro and Kiteto districts.

The CCM flagbearer also underscored the themes of continuity, peace, and inclusive growth. She highlighted the government’s investment record — including 3.97trn/- in Arusha — channeled into infrastructure, education, health, and water projects.

Senior CCM leaders accompanying her, including Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, Nape Nnauye, and Abdulrahman Kinana, hailed her leadership and progress, praising her administration’s success in implementing 98 percent of the 2020 CCM Manifesto.

As the election date approaches, Samia’s campaign trail continues to emphasise a message of steady progress, national unity, and economic transformation — signalling a future where Tanzania’s development is both inclusive and sustainable.