Tanzania: Government comes with good news for Kilwa Road users in Dar es Salaam

Dodoma. The government is working on a plan that will relieve Kilwa Road users of the hardships that they were going through during this time when construction of the thoroughfare was in progress.

The statement by the Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communications, Mr Elias Kwandikwa - which was issued in Parliament on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - comes at a time when residents of Mbagala, Kongowe, Toangoma, Kisemvule and all the way to Lindi were being forced to spend hours in traffic jams due to the ongoing construction works.

Mr Kwandikwa’s statement followed an advice from nominated Member of Parliament (MP) and former first lady, Salma Kikwete, and Speaker of Parliament, Mr Job Ndugai who said traffic jams on Kilwa Road had reached unbearable levels due to the ongoing thoroughfare construction.

“The world is now like a village. While we were in Cairo, Egypt last week, I got information that some people travelling to Lindi spent four hours at Mbagala as they waited for their turns to move during the time that the contactor was working on the site. The government must come up with an alternative route. The situation is bad and it must be dealt with sooner than later,” said Mama Kikwete, who hails from Lindi Region.

But in response, Mr Kwandikwa said the government’s intention was to ensure that the project was completed within the shortest possible period, noting however that the government would seriously consider Mama Kikwete’s and Mr Ndugai’s advice.

The government, through the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications, was currently building a road from Mbagala Rangi Tatu-Kongowe (3.8 kilometers) and the 17.5 kilometer stretch of the regional road from Kongowe – Mikwambe – Kibada – Mjimwema – Kivukoni Road.

The construction involves upgrading the 3.8 kilometer Mbagala Rangi Tatu – Kongowe stretch from two ways to four ways. It also involved improvement of a bridge at Mzinga River.