AfDB pledges $2.5 billion for infrastructure development in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed $2.5 billion, equivalent to Sh6.4 trillion, towards the development of priority infrastructure projects across Tanzania.

A statement issued on Thursday, February 6, 2025, by the East African Community (EAC) and signed by the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department senior public relations officer, Mr Simon Owaka, reveals that the funding will be directed towards unlocking the country's roads, railways, and airports.

The move, according to the statement, will facilitate the smooth movement of people and goods, which in turn will stimulate trade within the region.

The AfDB's Tanzania Country Chief Transport Engineer, Mr Mumina Wa-Kyendo, disclosed that over 70 percent of the funds will be allocated specifically to transport infrastructure, which includes roads, railways, and airports.

“Some of the projects that will benefit from this funding include the Tanzanian section of the multinational 400-kilometre Bagamoyo–Pangani–Tanga–Horohoro/Lunga Lunga–Mombasa–Malindi (Kenya) road, which is currently under construction in both countries,” said Mr Wa-Kyendo.

The road is part of the Coastal Transport Corridor in East Africa, which stretches from Lamu in Kenya to Mtwara in Tanzania.

Mr Wa-Kyendo also confirmed that the bank had set aside $100 million for the Tanzanian section of this road.

“Once completed, the road is expected to reduce the travel distance between Dar es Salaam and Tanga by approximately 90 kilometres, saving over an hour of travel time,” he said.

This will also allow travellers to bypass the Central Corridor and instead access Tanga through Bagamoyo and Pangani towns.

Other key projects receiving AfDB funding include theNyakanazi–Kabingo–Kasulu–Kumnazi road in the western region, the Newala–Masasi road in the southern part, the Tabora–Kigoma–Uvinza railway that will extend to Musongati in Burundi and the Dodoma (Msalato) International Airport,” added Mr Wa-Kyendo.

Mr Wa-Kyendo was speaking in Tanga, where a multi-sectoral team of experts from the East African Community Secretariat, the Ministry of Works from Tanzania, and the Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure from Kenya had concluded a two-day inspection mission of the Bagamoyo–Pangani–Tanga road stretch.

The inspection team was led by the director of Infrastructure at the EAC Secretariat, Mr Robert Achieng.

The Tanzanian delegation was headed by the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) director of projects, Mr Japherson Nnko, while the Kenyan team was led by the Ministry of Roads and Transport Secretary, Mr Kimeli Kipchumba.

Also present during the mission were Mr Luka Kimeli from the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Kenya; Mr Moikan Mollel from the Ministry of Works, Tanzania; and the EAC deputy director of Infrastructure, Ms Lucy Mburu.

Others are Mr Ismail Abdalla from the ministry of Foreign

Affairs and EAC Cooperation in Tanzania, Mr Cleophas Makau from the Kenya National

Highways Authority (KENHA), Mr Peter Bol Deng from the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) and Mr Faraji Yassin Kondo from the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA).

Speaking further, Mr Wa-Kyendo noted that the AfDB's funding is contingent on the efficient implementation of the infrastructure projects.

He emphasised that delivering these projects on time and within budget is critical to unlocking additional funding for future projects.

Mr Wa-Kyendo underscored the importance of transport infrastructure in facilitating regional trade and integration.

He also called for closer collaboration and knowledge-sharing between the Northern and Central Corridor transit and transport coordination authorities.

“The successful implementation of projects like the Arusha-Namanga-Athi River and Arusha-Holili/Taveta–Voi roads, which were completed on time and within budget, should serve as examples for future initiatives,” he said.

Mr Wa-Kyendo expressed concern that the exact authority responsible for overseeing the corridor linking the Central and Northern corridors remains unclear, stressing that the said gap must be urgently addressed by the EAC Partner States.

Mr Achieng, representing EAC Secretary General, Ms Veronica Nduva, said that the EAC’s primary focus is the development of 10 multinational corridors that form the East African Road Network, with special emphasis on the three principal corridors.

These include the Central Corridor (Dar es Salaam–Morogoro–Dodoma–Singida–Nyakanazi–Rusumo–Kigali–Rubavu–Nyakasanza–Kabanga/Kobero–Bujumbura–DRC) and the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor.

Mr Achieng further informed the meeting that the EAC is currently conducting a feasibility study and evaluating funding options for the proposed Kenya/Uganda multinational Kisumu–Busia/Jinja–Kakira–Malaba motorway, which will enhance the flow of goods and people along the Northern Corridor.

He highlighted that the development of roads and railways along these corridors is a priority for the regional bloc, with funding coming from partner states’ domestic revenues and official development assistance from the AfDB and other development partners.

“The findings from the inspection mission will be presented at the next meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council of Transport, Communications and Meteorology for further consideration and policy guidance,” said Mr Achieng.