How 413-kilometre SADC road link will benefit Tanzania
President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Works minister Innocent Bashungwa unveil the foundation stone for the construction of the Makongorosi-Rungwa-Noranga-Mkiwa road in Singida Region yesterday. PHOTO | STATE HOUSE .
What you need to know:
- President Hassan laid the foundation stone for the initial 56.57 kilometres linking Mkiwa-Itigi and Noranga. The total costs of initial project is about Sh70 billion.
Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Sunday October 15, 2023 said the construction of a 413-kilometre road will enhance trade between Tanzania and other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member nations.
The road will stretch from Mkiwa-itigi-Rungwa to Makongorosi, connecting Singida and Mbeya regions and beyond.
The project is being implemented by China Henan International Cooperation Group Co Ltd (CHICO).
Commencing her maiden tour of Singida Region, President Hassan laid the foundation stone for the initial 56.57 kilometres linking Mkiwa-Itigi and Noranga. The total costs of initial project is about Sh70 billion.
The Head of State also launched Sh1.15 trillion education infrastructure projects implemented at primary and secondary schools.
The projects to be implemented from 2021/22 to 2025/26 are the Better Outcomes for Older Adults through Safe Transitions (Boost); the expansion of advanced secondary education projects and the Secondary Education Quality Improvement Programme (Sequip).
Addressing the public at police grounds in Itigi, Manyoni District, President Hassan said completion of the 413km road project would connect the country with the Tanzania and Zambia Corridor (Tanzam) and the Central Corridor at Mkiwa area along the Dodoma-Singida highway.
“Therefore, this road is of significant importance to Singida, Mbeya, Tabora regions and other corridors connecting Tanzania with the SADC region.
“Its completion will stimulate production and trade by simplifying transport and transportation of agriculture, mining and forestry commodities, among others,” she said.
President Hassan said following the importance of the road project she had consulted the Minister of Works (Innocent Bashunmgwa) and his Finance counterpart (Mwigulu Nchemba) to find out whether it could be implemented without any stoppages.
“The Finance minister has responded by nodding indicating that it is possible. He didn’t respond verbally, but he nodded. Therefore, we are looking at the possibility of executing the project without stoppages,” she said.
“We are going to take it to Makongorosi where it will be connected to Mbeya Region and pave the way for trade prosperity between Mbeya and Singida regions,” she said.
President Hassan assured the public that her government has committed to improve roads and bridges infrastructures by connecting the regions and districts with tarmac roads.
The President said roads infrastructure has now turned to be citizen’s outcry in most places of the visits, unlike in the past when the challenge of electricity, water, healthcare centres, schools and classrooms turned out to be huge.
In order to address power outages in the area, she said her administration was implementing the $80 million solar power project that would be added to the national grid.
The Head of State said Sh10 billion has been disbursed by the government to improve electricity infrastructures in the district in the government’s short term measures to address the challenge.
Earlier today, during the launch of education projects, she urged Tanzanians to ensure that children were well prepared to excel educationally at all levels by providing them with early childhood education.
“Our focus is to prepare our children from the age of three or four through early childhood education. Parents are therefore urged to ensure that their children go to school,” she said.
President Hassan called on Tanzanians to take care of school infrastructure all over the country for the benefit of present and future generations.
The Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, said the value of the three projects was Sh1.15 trillion.
“The government has already disbursed Sh230 billion for the implementation of the projects, which will see 302 schools being constructed, including 294 that will provide early childhood education,” he said.
Singida regional commissioner Peter Serukamba commended President Hassan’s administration for increasing funds allocated to the region by 327 percent from Sh124 billion in 2021/22 Fiscal Year to Sh530 billion in the 2023/24 Financial Year.
He said the region was also implementing several development projects in the water, health, education, agriculture and infrastructure sector among others.
“The region has made significant investment in cashew nuts cultivation in Manyoni and Ikungi districts. Interestingly, cultivated cashews have been researched, assuring us that the region was going to be among major producers in the near future,” he said.
