CCM presidential candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan pledged to transform Tanga into a major industrial zone and a regional hub for oil, gas and trade, unveiling a raft of projects aimed at reviving dormant factories and attracting new investment.

Addressing a campaign rally at Usagara grounds in Tanga City yesterday, Samia said her government will establish industrial clusters in every district of Tanga and revive defunct factories, including the introduction of an ambulance assembly plant.

 She warned landowners with idle plots that they risk repossession if the land is not developed, saying industrial growth requires proper use of available resources.

“Tanga was once known as a strong industrial base, and my mission is to bring back that legacy. We will set up new industrial zones and reopen factories that closed down so that this city and region can regain its rightful place as an economic powerhouse,” Samia declared.

She tied Tanga’s industrial future to its port and oil and gas sector, noting that the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project has reached 84 percent implementation, while the port expansion will position Tanga as a logistics hub for petroleum products and cargo.

To support transport and logistics, Samia announced the commencement of a 1,108-kilometre modern railway from Tanga to Musoma in Mara Region, and the upgrading of key roads to tarmac standard. These include, Handeni–Kiberashi–Kijingu–Singida Road (373km), Handeni–Kibirashi–Kwamtoro–Singida Road (434.33km) as well ad the 600km Dar es Salaam–Chalinze–Segera–Arusha Highway, which will be expanded to reduce congestion.

In agriculture, she highlighted a mega irrigation project at Pangani Valley to promote sugarcane farming, which will be supported by new factories producing both brown sugar and industrial sugar. She also said that the Pangani Irrigation Scheme will benefit 20,000 people by improving crop production and income.

Fishing and blue economy development were also high on her agenda. She promised to provide modern tools and training to fishers, and reiterated plans for an international fish market at Kipumbwi in Pangani, fully equipped to handle processing and exports.

She also announced measures to end harassment of families at hospitals when they fail to pay medical bills on time. “Relatives should be given the body of their loved one and provided with procedures for payment later. We will not allow people to be mistreated in moments of grief,” she said.