{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Road construction leaves a mark - Political Reforms | The Citizen
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Road construction leaves a mark - Political Reforms
Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Kikwete is on the verge of finishing his ten years as the head of state. But he is going out leaving behind a mark on construction sector, notably on the construction of roads.
Roads is an important sector in the economy of any nation due to its impact on the welfare of its citizens and the investment involved. Experts regard roads as lifeline of the individual as well as national economy.
Good quality of road works is important for both safety and economic development reasons in any society. This importance is propounded by the fact that the transport sector has a major role to play in the socio-economic development of a country as it provides access to markets, production, jobs, health, education and other social services. That is why President Kikwete's focus and achievements on road construction has left a mark on his leadership.
And the fact that his party (Chama Cha Mapinduzi – CCM) has nominated Dr John Magufuli, whose public service is dominated by his excellent performance on works ministry, speaks volume. Though Dr Magufuli has served in various portfolios under Mr Kikwete, but it is performance in roads which has made him who he is among Tanzanians.
Dr Magufuli's performance weighs very much in the election campaigns and CCM's slogan in this year's General Election – hapa kazi tu – literally meaning work and nothing else, has been coined from many things one of which being Dr Magufuli's performance which is dominated by his work on roads construction.
In a way, Mr Kikwete has made Dr Magufuli and other presidential candidates work very hard. Given his performance on roads sector, the next leader has a lot to do to surpass what his predecessor has achieved.
As noted above, the government, under President Jakaya Kikwete, managed to achieve a lot on infrastructure development. A lot of roads, bridges and ferries have been put in place and made transport easy in the country.
Ten years ago no one could imagine that a journey from Mtwara, the southern tip of the country to Bukoba, the western part of the country, would be so short and travelling on tarmacked roads.
Dr Magufuli once said that before this leadership goes out Tanzanians will be able to use a saloon car to travel from Mtwara to Bukoba, many then though that this was far-fetched dream. But now everybody is a witness that has been accomplished.
When coming to power ten years ago, a person who was travelling from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza was forced to pass through neighbouring Kenya. Worse still, those who were going to Bukoba had to go through Kenya and Uganda. It was a journey which took several days. But today it is just a matter of hours before this journey is accomplished.
This is because Mr Kikwete's government recognised the challenge which Tanzanians and the nation was facing on infrastructure sector. It was a national shame for its citizens to use other countries as a transit from one region to another within their own country.
One of strategies which President Kikwete used was strengthening of Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads), which was established in 2000 specifically to deal with roads construction in the country.
President Kikwete's predecessor, Mr Benjamin Mkapa came up with the idea of Tanroads through which the government created a special fund called Roads Fund. This Fund was used to collect money, mainly locally, for roads construction. After five years the results showed that it was possible for the country to build more roads using own money. Mr Kikwete decided to capitalise on the move.
Reports compiled by the government shows that as a results of this move the government had enough funds for execution of many road projects. As a result many of the projects undertaken between 2005 and 2015 were accomplished within the budgeted time.
This was possible because the government managed to increase allocation for Road Fund from Sh73.08 billion in 2005 to Sh751.7 billion last year. This increment is equivalent to 928.6 percent.
This initiative assisted the Works ministry to complete construction of 1,226km of road started by Mr Mkapa's government. On the other hand, Mr Kikwete's administration built 2,264.75km of road network across the country. Some 1,304.45km have been built at tarmac level and 960.3 have been upgrade to gravel level.
On regional roads, some 393km have been upgraded to tarmac level and 6,636km have been developed to gravel level.
As a result of these efforts trick roads network has reached 35,000km out of which 12,786km are main roads and 22,214km are regional roads. Many people view this as great achievement.
Just like in roads, Mr Kikwete's government has also done very well on bridges. One of notable achievements in this area include completion of Umoja (Unity) Bridge, which connects Tanzania and Mozambique across Ruvuma River.
The Unity Bridge was proposed as early as 1975, shortly after Mozambique's independence. It was the idea of the two country's former Presidents, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Samora Machel. Several design studies and limited construction work were completed in the early 1980s, but the Unity Bridge was not finished due to lack of funds.
In 2002 the two national governments made a formal agreement to build a new bridge across the river. The first foundation stones were laid both on Tanzanian and Mozambique sides on October 10, 2005, shortly before President Kikwete came into power. Construction was initially planned to be finished in 2008.
In 2005, Norconsult was awarded the contract for preliminary design and construction supervision of the 720m long bridge.
The project would boost development in Mtwara Region (Tanzania), Cabo Delgado (Mozambique) as well as in the Southern African Development Community region as it is an important component of the Mtwara Development Corridor. It will also shorten the distance along the Cape to Cairo Road.
But the government has also constructed several other bridges across the country. They are Rusumo in Kagera Region, Mwanhuzi (Simiyu and Kikwete Bridge across Malagarasi River in Kigoma.
Others are Nangoo (Mtwara), Ruhekei (Ruvuma), Mbutu (Tabora), Mwatizi (Morogoro), Ruvu (Coast), Nanganga (Mtwara), Maligisu (Tabora) and pedestrian bridge in mabatini in Mwanza.
Work is still going on for completion of Kigamboni Bridge which will connect Dar central business district with Kigamboni. This is among five major bridges which are in the pipeline. Others major bridges include Kilombero in Morogoro, Kavuu in Katavi, Sibiti in Singida and Lukuledi II in Mtwara.
There are also several bridges such as Momba in Mbeya, Mwiti in Mtwara and Simiyu along the Mwanza – Mara highway, which also in pipeline just like Wami in Coast, Ruhuhu in Ruvuma, Ubungo Interchange, Tazara na Selander in Dar es Salaam.
Through Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Services Agency (Temesa) has continued to rehabilitate, purchase and build new ferries which have eased transport in many parts of the country.
When President came into power in 2005, there were only nine government owned and operated ferries. But today some 24 ferries are currently working in various parts of the country. A total of Sh47.3 billion has been used to push up the number of ferries by more than 167 percent in the period of ten years.
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