THE long-awaited $40bn liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Lindi Region in its final stages of agreement with investors, the leading presidential candidate has declared. major step toward transforming both Lindi Region and the national economy.

Addressing a campaign event in Lindi municipality yesterday, CCM flag bearer Samia Suluhu Hassan told the residents that discussions had taken time as the government sought to secure favourable terms that would guarantee meaningful benefits for Tanzanians.

“It has taken much time due to various areas which we wanted to agree on together to ensure that it brings intended outcomes to our people and the nation. Things have gone well and we are now finalising to commence the project,” she said, underlining that the project is going to generate thousands of jobs and spur local business opportunities.

Alongside the LNG milestone, she pledged robust agricultural support for cashew farmers, to receive sulphur and other critical pesticides free of charge in the event of re-election.

“We will bring sulphur, pesticides and other key inputs for cashew farming free of charge. This will enable our farmers to harvest more, increase their incomes and transform their livelihoods,” she stated, pointing out that other crops have subsidised fertiliser and inputs maintained.

Irrigation projects will be expanded to enable year-round farming, part of a wide-ranging development plan for Lindi Region covering agriculture, fisheries and livestock keeping, while water, energy, infrastructure and social services are uplifted. 

She pledged the revival of cashew processing factories, construction of a fish processing plant in Lindi, along with expansion of modern markets to strengthen the warehouse receipt system to ensure better prices for farmers.

More modern boats and technical support will be availed to seaweed farmers, while a new processing plant is lined up, whereas livestock keepers would be provided with vaccinations and modern slaughtering facilities be set up to support exports, she further noted.

She talked of major rehabilitation for Lindi Airport to accommodate larger aircraft, with an airstrip lined up for Lindi South area, while 13 major bridges are under construction with more planned, some on the Dar es Salaam–Kibiti–Lindi road, to ease connectivity.

A major scale-up in social services like a 30bn/- scheme covering ten villages in Mchinga constituency and expansion of the Kinyope, Lutamba and Litangala irrigation projects were on the cards, she said. 

Additional health centres, dispensaries and medical staff would be deployed, while electricity rollout is pursued under the clean energy agenda to cut reliance on unsafe fuels, she said, stressing the need to improve wildlife management in areas affected by wildlife incursions into settlements and farms.

She urged citizens to work hard and ensure prompt compliance with tax demands to enable government service delivery, while Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said achievements under the president’s leadership had given Tanzanians absolute confidence in the capacity of the government to deliver.

The party manifesto for the polls late next month will accelerate development in the region, he said, in remarks echoed by Dr Asharose Migiro, the party secretary general. She appealed to residents to turn out in large numbers on polling day, mindful that Lindi has a vibrant history as a producer of national leaders.