High poverty levels in Eastern Province worry government

Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo has expressed disappointment that the province has the high levels of poverty in the country.
The permanent secretary says that it is shocking that the poverty level for Eastern Province in 2015 stood at 84.3 per cent.
Mr. Kasolo says that if the province had its budget of its own the province would have initiated poverty reduction programmes to reduce the poverty level.
He says at the moment it is difficult to reduce the poverty level because the province is not controlling the distribution of funds.
Mr. Kasolo says with the coming of decentralization, the province will do well in the formation of value added jobs.
He says as a province people should stop dependence on government and lobby for investors who will create more jobs which will contribute to reduction of poverty.