The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Patty Magubira
13 May 2008
Mwanza — The Government yesterday reaffirmed its promise that come 2010, motorists will be able to drive saloon cars from Mtwara to Sirari in Mara Region with ease.
Addressing a public rally at Nyankumbu village in Geita district, Mwanza Region, President Jakaya Kikwete said except for 154-kilomentre stretches on the over 2,000-kilometre road connecting the two points, has been built at tarmac level.
He said at the moment, motorists only endure 150 kilometres of earth stretches on the Mtwara/Mwanza highway, noting that the remaining portions would be constructed at tarmac level by 2010.The President told the rally that the unpaved section of mentioned roads have been assigned to different contractors.
Mr Kikwete however, urged people living along paved roads not to vandalise bridges, road signs or farm near newly built roads, stating that huge amounts of money was being spent to improve transport infrastructure in the country.Earlier, the newly appointed minister for Infrastructure Development, Dr Shukuru Kawambwa, had assured the President that his ministry would strive to complete all road projects initiated under the third phase government.
"Over 700 kilometres of road network has been constructed at tarmac level since the fourth phase government came to power in 2006," said the minister.
He listed newly built roads as the 95-kilometre Mbwenkulu to Mingoyo, 79-kilometre Mkuranga to Kibiti stretch, 262-kilometre Morogoro-Dodoma highway, 63-kilometre Isuna to Singida and 110-kilometre Singida-Shelui stretches.
Other completed road projects include the 41-kilometre Nzega-Tinde stretch, 128-kilometre Isaka-Ilula section, 100-kilometre Geita-Buzirayombo road and 120-kilometre Buzirayombo-Kyamyorwa road.
Dr Kawambwa said other roads currently in final phases are Dodoma-Manyoni (127km), Tarakea-Rongai-Kamwanga (32) and the Umoja Bridge connecting Tanzania and Mozambique to be completed in two year's time.He said construction work on the 11.6-km Kilwa Road, Sam Nujoma (4.9km) and 15.6-km Nelson Mandela in Dar es Salaam, was in progress.
Others projects still underway are 36-kilometre Lwanjilo Road in Mbeya, 154-kilometre Kagoma-Biharamulo-Lusahunga Road and the Ruvu Bridge.
Roads whose construction is about to start, according to Dr Kawambwa, are on the central and southern corridor, 92-kilometre Usagara-Geita in Mwanza, 60-kilometre Mwandiga-Manyovu road, 34-kilometre Kigoma-Kidahwe stretch and the 248-kilometre Chalinze-Sigera-Tanga road.
Work is also set to start on the 165-kilometre Same-Mkumbara-Korogwe road, 106-kilometre Arusha-Namanga and 237-Singida-Babati-Minjingu roads.
The minister said preparations were at advanced stages for the construction of Malagarasi bridge, Kidahwe-Uvinza, Tananga-Horohoro roads, Tunduma-Sumbawanga road and Namtumbo-Songea-Mbinga road.
These roads network would be financed through loans and grants from South Korea, Abu Dhabi and MCC of US.
Speaking during the same occasion, the ministry's PS, Mr Omar Chambo warned of legal action against vandals for uprooting road signs and digging sand along the roads.
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