WANGING’OMBE District Council in Njombe Region has issued loans worth over 528m/- to 52 women’s groups as part of efforts to empower them economically through the council's internal revenue.

Wanging’ombe District Commissioner, Zakaria Mwansasu, announced this at the weekend during the International Women's Day celebrations held at Luduga Village.

Mwansasu said that to uplift women, the council allocates 10 percent of its internal revenue for loans: 4 percent for women, 4 percent for youth and 2 percent for people with disabilities. The loans are interest-free to support economic growth for the beneficiaries and their families.

"All these efforts are in line with the government’s efforts to uplift women economically," said Mwansasu.

He urged women to use the day as a reminder to ensure that all children who passed their exams to join secondary school report to schools by March 31.

"I would like to take this opportunity to urge all parents to ensure that children who passed their exams and were selected to join secondary school report to schools by March 31," he said.

Mwansasu also called on men to be good role models in parenting and avoid abandoning their families. He encouraged them to support women's business ventures instead of discouraging them.

Wanging’ombe District Executive Director, Veronica Gerald, said that the government will continue to empower women in various fields to ensure they are not economically dependent.

Mkali Kubebeka, the council’s head of community development department, said that the council implements the government’s policy of allocating 10 percent of internal revenue to support the three target groups.

"The loans are not exploitative because they are interest-free. If you receive a loan of 5m/- you will repay exactly 5m/- within the agreed period," said Kubebeka.

Jane Kapole, one of the women who attended the event, said the day provided an opportunity for women to reflect on their parenting roles and explore economic opportunities in their communities.