Set aside enough money for road repairs, MPs tell govt

Set aside enough money for road repairs, MPs tell govt

Dodoma. Members of Parliament have urged the government to set aside enough funds for repairing the Dar es Salaam-Isaka-Rusumo highway in order to allow smooth transportation.

Ngara legislator Alex Gashaza (CCM) yesterday told the Parliament through a supplement question that it was disconcerting to learn that the government, in this financial year, has set aside only Sh1.9 billion for the maintenance of the major road.

“During 2016/17 fiscal year, the government had set aside Sh5 billion for repairing this road, but this year the budget has been reduced. The road is very significant for stimulating the country’s economy and it must be repaired to facilitate good flow of goods and other services,” he argued.

In his response, Works, Transport and Communications deputy minister Edwin Ngonyani said his ministry would continue to repair the road.

“We’re aware of the significance of the road and we’ll continue to repair it to Isaka,” he said.

Mr Ngonyani added that most road projects require huge amount of money and that the government will continue to repair the road in different phases due to budgetary limitations.

“Most of the time, we don’t receive the whole sum of money as per the budget. Therefore, the ministry must always look for money amid a limited budget for road repair,” he said.

Mr Ngonyani, moreover, assured Parliament that the government would continue seeking ways of sourcing money in order to repair all crucial roads in the country, together with constructing fresh tarmac roads at different parts