The First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly is on a familiarisation tour of selected constituency offices in Southern Province.  The tour commenced on Monday, 22nd May, 2023 and will be concluded on Saturday, 27th May, 2023. The purpose of the tour is to familiarise herself with operations of constituency offices, as well as appreciate the challenges faced.

Honourable Chisangano is expected to tour nine constituencies and has so far visited the Magoye, Pemba, Bweengwe, Dundumwezi and Choma Central constituency offices.  During interactions with the Members of Parliament in the respective constituencies, Honourable Chisangano noted the need to conduct more sensitisation campaigns to apprise the people of the role of the office of the Member of Parliament.  She highlighted that constituency offices served as a direct link for the National Assembly, Members of Parliament and the local people.  She reiterated the need to educate the people, especially women and youths, regardless of their political affiliation, of the various empowerment opportunities that are available under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

The Honourable First Deputy is gratified at some of the projects that have been implemented under the CDF, as she referred to a solar powered water system at Nteme Primary School, among other projects in Bweengwa Constituency.  She explained that such a project benefited the people and demonstrated how much development can be realised through the CDF.  She has urged other Members of Parliament to emulate the works that are being achieved through CDF.

Honourable Chisangano notes that most of the constituencies she has visited share common challenges which can be addressed administratively by the National Assembly.  However, she stated that due to fiscal limitations the National Assembly is not, in the short or medium able to construct constituency offices for those that are occupying rented space.  She has, therefore, encouraged the affected Members of Parliament to consider utilising the CDF to build the offices.

Notably, the Honourable First Deputy Speaker tour is being characterised by a tree planting exercise at every constituency visited.  This initiative is in line with a resolution that was passed by the Inter Parliamentary Union urging parliaments and parliamentarians to reduce their carbon footprint by adopting strategies that can avert the adverse effects of climate change.  She has reminded Members of Parliament of the commitment that the National Assembly has made to plant 1000 trees in each constituency.