THE government has started installing fences in areas prone to crocodile attacks to keep people safe when using water from the lake or conducting other activities, leading presidential candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan said yesterday.

Addressing a campaign rally in Misungwi, she said that people need to be safe while they benefit from the lake’s resources, so the protective measures will make fishing safer and more productive for communities, including women who frequently use the shores.

Over 400 modern fish cages have already been established in Mwanza, providing employment, with more modern cages expected to be installed in the next phase, specifically targeting women and youth to strengthen the region’s fish processing and export industries, the candidate affirmed..

Vowing to deepen investment in fisheries as well as infrastructure across the Lake Zone, she pointed at aquaculture expansion, safety measures and job creation, particularly for youth and women.

There will be measures to strengthen the fisheries value chain in the zone, especially with the massive infrastructure transformation underway in Mwanza Region, an economically vital region serving as a hub for fishing, agriculture and trade, she said.

Heavy investment in the zone over the past few years include the Kigongo–Busisi (Magufuli) Bridge, so far taking up 566bn/- to bring the bridge to near completion. A total of 700bn/-was set out as the total cost for the game changer for Lake Zone economic activity, she said.

The candidate similarly talked about the standard gauge railway (SGR) where the Makutupora to Mwanza section has reached 65 percent completion, alongside modernizing Mwanza city roads and airport: Plans are underway for a two lane road on each side from the city centre to Buhongwa and Usagara, while the airport is upgraded to an international standard facility, to stimulate trade and tourism, she explained.

Overall, 5.6trn/- has been invested in Mwanza Region over the past few years in infrastructure, health, education, energy and water, reflecting the government’s commitment to regional economic transformation, she said.

To tackle perennial water shortages, water projects are being implemented in Misungwi District, with a 38kilometre water network expansion project now at 87 percent completion, with two large water tanks. It will serve an estimated 22,480 residents in high-altitude areas, she said.

Mwanza Rural District has projects like the Ukiriguru water project directed at 19 villages having upwards of 85,500 residents, she said, citing Nyamagana District as benefiting from the 71.7bn Butimba water project, where 450,000 residents benefit. It is also supported by new large storage tanks, where a-five million-litre tank is installed at Nyamazobe.

Beyond infrastructure, social welfare uplift efforts had 455 groups in Nyamagana District accessing a total of 9.8bn/- in municipal council loans, empowering small businesses run by youth and women. she said.

Later, at a campaign rally in Sengerema District, the candidate urged members of the public to ignore individuals attempting to fuel chaos and focus on protecting peace, emphasizing that unity remains the foundation of national progress as the October 29 general election approaches.

The next team of office holders shall work to provide free vaccination for chickens, extending the success of subsidized livestock vaccination programmes to boost poultry health, increase production and empower rural farmers, particularly women and youth, she stated.

 Sengerema will soon host the Nyanzaga Gold Mine, expected to be one of the largest in the Lake Zone, creating jobs and stimulating local business, an initiative demonstrating the government’s commitment to an inclusive economy, she stated.

Misungwi parliamentary candidate Silvery Luboja and his Arusha Urban counterpart Paul Makonda hailed the president's leadership, citing tangible development in health, education and infrastructure across the region.