President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday laid a foundation stone for the construction of the 60-km Ndundu-Somanga road. Completion of the section would make the entire Dar es Salaam-Lindi-Mtwara road tarred.

The section, which is part of 459km Dar-Kibiti-Lindi road, was the only remaining portion in the southern highway which also connects the country to Mozambique through Mtwara.

The ceremony was held at Nyamwage village, located seven kilometres from the majestic Mkapa Bridge across Rufiji River. The road also makes part of the Mtwara Corridor, which connects the southern regions of Mtwara, Lindi and Ruvuma.

Speaking during the ceremony, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Infrastructure Development, Mr Omar Chambo said construction of the road section would cost Sh60.4 billion. Out of the amount, Sh53.05 billion has been made available by the Government.

Others who have contributed in the project are Kuwait Fund, which has contributed Sh6.74 billion while Opec countries have provided Sh620 million.

Mr Chambo the construction of the road had started mid last month and it would be completed after about 30 months.

He said the construction would take longer due to the environment as the construction is forced to build many bridges along the road.

Speaking after laying a foundation stone and planting a tree, President Kikwete said ccompletion of the road would put to rest an adage that people of southern regions have been neglected by the Government.

"This will now become a history, as there will be no one who would be identified as Tanzanian or a Tanganyikan basing on where one comes from as it used to be referred to earlier.

"They have been ridiculing us that we are not capable and we are not doing anything. Even after constructing the Mkapa Bridge, they continued to belittle us saying how can we cross the bridge while there was no road they said it was like buying someone a shirt while he has no trousers. We have now put the ridicule to rest," he said.

He said the project proves the statement by the former minister for Works, Mr John Magufuli that a person could travel by a saloon car from Mtwara to Mwanza in a tarmaced road, especially after completion of Manyoni-Isuna section of the road.

After laying the foundation stone, President Kikwete continued with his tour of Coast, Lindi and Mtwara regions.

On his way to Lindi yesterday, he briefly addressed residents of Muhoro in Coast region, as well as residents of Njianne in Kilwa District, Lindi Region.

Later in the evening, President Kikwete was expected to inaugurate Mbwemkuru-Mingoyo road in Lindi Region, whose construction was completed several months ago.