The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Samuel Kamndaya
2 July 2009
Dodoma — Eleven roads are lined up for construction to tarmac level during the current financial year, it was revealed in Parliament yesterday, amid claims by the MPs on unfair distribution of infrastructure funds.
Presenting 2009/10 fiscal year budget estimates for Infrastructure Development, minister Shukuru Kawambwa, told the House that the 11 road projects include completion of seven ongoing projects and three new roads.
"Mr Speaker, eleven road projects are earmarked for construction this year, including the completion of Kilwa Road in Dar es Salaam, seven ongoing projects and three new projects," Dr Kawambwa told the House.
According to Dr Kawambwa, Sam Nujoma and Nelson Mandela roads in Dar es Salaam are to be completed this year.
The other ongoing projects to be completed this year are Marangu/Tarakea/ Rongai road, Arusha/Namanga/Mbeya/Chunya/Makongolosi road, Msimba/Ikokoto/ Mafinga, and Minjingu/Babati/Singida road..
Construction of the 231km stretch of the Tunduma/Sumbawanga road and 65km Tanga/Horohoro road, are currently in early stages.
Work on bridges on the 151km Rujewa/Madibira/ Mafinga road, is also scheduled to begin this year. A number of road projects are also expected to undergo feasibility studies.
But in an interesting twist, MPs who contributed to Dr Kawambwa's budget speech, decried the ministry's unfair distribution of resources meant for infrastructure development. They complained of marginalisation of the western zone regions in infrastructure development plans.
"When we say Tabora, Kigoma and Rukwa regions are sidelined, some people claim that we are dividing the country. This is not true. It is those who are responsible of sharing out the national cake, that are splitting the country into divisions," said Mr Said Nkumba (Sikonge-CCM).
He said most roads in the western regions are impassable during the rain season "We will never stop complaining until our problems are addressed," he said.
Last year, he pointed out, the Prime Minister promised to allocated Sh10 billion in the current financial year for road construction in Tabora, but todate, only Sh6.7 billion has been earmarked for the region.
"Where is the other over Sh3 billion?" he queried. Kondoa North MP, Dr Zabein Mhita (CCM) and Aziza Ally (Special Seats - CCM), echoed Mr Nkumba's sentiments, saying the Government has always used technical terms like feasibility studies and surveys, to appease people in the sidelined regions.
"This ministry uses a lot of technical terms to appease those of us from the sidelined regions, but I wonder why when Mrs Anna Abdallah was the minister for Infrastructure Development, such terms were not a hindrance to development of the western zone," said Ms Ally.
According to Dr Mhita, the Dodoma/Haneti/Kondoa/Babati/Minjingu road is in a pathetic condition, especially when it rains. "It is amazing to hear the minister has budgeted only Sh5.6 billion for construction of bridges on this road.
According to her, the road forms part of the great Cape to Cairo road, and it is only in Tanzania where the road is not tarmacked, she said.
Ms Mhita said in the previous financial year's budget session, this ministry said survey and feasibility studies for the road had been completed and that about Sh12 billion had been budgeted for the road's construction during 2008/09, but nothing had been done to date.
Mr Kawambwa's ministry has been on the spotlight after the Finance and Economic Affairs minister Mustafa Mkulo, presented the Government budget estimates for 2009/2010 over two weeks ago.
The MPs from the ruling party have accused the Government of neglecting development projects in their constituencies despite promises made during the campaigns in 2005.
Mr John Magale Shibuda (Maswa-CCM), Mr Suleiman Saddiq (Mvomero-CCM), Dr Mzeru Nibuka (Morogoro Urban-CCM), Mr Elisa Mollel (Arumeru West-CCM) and Mr William Kusila (Bahi-CCM), have also accused the Government of unfair distribution of the national resources in the budget.
Mr Shibuda said ministers and other top Government officials only gave priority to their home areas. Dr Kawambwa asked the National Assembly to approve Sh841.298 billion for his ministry for the 2009/2010 financial year.
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