Kigamboni DC office project hit by cash shortage

Dar es Salaam. Construction of offices for the Kigamboni district commissioner (DC) and the district executive director (DED) will take longer than expected, largely due to delays in releasing funds allocated to the project.

A total of Sh5 billion is required for the project but according to Tanzania Building Agency (TBA) engineer Godfrey Edwin so far only Sh1.35 billion has been released.

Mr Edwin spoke yesterday during a tour of the project site by the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr Selemani Jafo.

“We were to complete the project in October, but if we get enough funds, we can only complete it in January, 2019,” he said.

Mr Jafo then directed the Kigamboni DED, Mr Stephen Katemba, and the contractor to do everything in their power to ensure that the project is completed by the end of November.

He urged TBA to hire graduates available in the market, saying they could help to hasten the pace of construction. During the tour, Mr Jafo also took time to inspect the construction of a Sh400 million health centre at Kimbiji where he was told the project would require Sh142 million more.

“This is justifiable, considering the area’s landscape. So far you have done a good job,” he said.

For his part, regional commissioner Paul Makonda recommended that the minister prioritises performance instead of experience on selecting heads of departments since in some cases are the reasons for project’s delay.