Tanzania: In Support of Road Infrastructure Investment

Posted on : Saturday , 26th September 2015

Roads are an integral part of the transport system. They account for more than 90 per cent of all passengers and goods transport in the country.

Our Staff writer Chaby Barasa who recently accompanied CCM Union presidential candidate Dr John Magufuli on a campaign trail in several regions, revisits the crucial role road transport is playing in spearheading economic development in the country. "If you have roads, you have wealth."

The quotation is attributed to Chinese Vice-Minister for Transport, Mr Weng Mengyong. Mr Weng uttered the words more than five years ago to emphasise the contribution of road transport to the economy of a country.

It is a known fact that an effective and efficient road infrastructure will reduce cost and comparative distance between trading partners; thereby increasing trade effectiveness and maximising returns on existing industrial investment and production and in the long run making a country's products competitive in the world market.

For Tanzania, it goes without saying that improved road networks have transformed the country by enhancing mobility of both people and goods from one place to another. "Over the years the efforts of the government has been to bridge development gaps between the rural and urban communities.

No wonder if one travels upcountry today, can easily see a number of roads being constructed across the country to enhance the economic activities of the citizenry" observes Dr Magufuli. The presidential hopeful has decided to travel the breadth and width of the country by road looking for votes.
 
This has been possible, thanks to massive investment in road infrastructure by the government in the past ten years , which has made most roads, even in remote areas, passable throughout the year.

"Of course the campaign will see the ruling party flag bearer and his campaign team travelling on some bumpy and rough roads, but at least most of them are passable and hence even the remotest of areas in the country can be reached," observed a member of the campaign team Mr Abdalah Bulembo.

Dr Magufuli who is credited for the successful implementation of the road projects, has so far overseen construction of more than 17,000 kilometres of the networks in the country, placing Tanzania among countries that have made great strides in the road transport sector.

During his campaign rallies, Dr Magufili has been insisting that mobility of people and goods is dependent on the efficient use of existing road infrastructure , and the modernisation and expansion of the network to meet the future demand for transport services efficiently and cost-effectively.

He has pledged, in line with the ruling party election manifesto, to maintain investments in road infrastructure, linking especially areas with vast economic potential such as Liganga and Mchuchuma where coal has been discovered.

To finance such projects, Dr Magufuli has pledged, among others, to reinforce the Road Fund Board, by looking for other income generating avenues and ensure value for money in all projects implemented.

His pledge is in line with experts' view that road transport in the country is vital to the well-functioning of economic activities and a key to ensuring social well-being and cohesion of populations, ensuring everyday mobility of people and the production and distribution of goods.

Investment in road infrastructure has been among priorities of the government, which has resulted in the opening up of areas once considered remote and isolated such as Mtwara , Lindi and Kigoma regions.

Mtwara -based business man Maneno Sudi attests to the significant difference improved road infrastructure can make. "A trip from Dar es salaam to Mtwara by road now takes between seven and eight hours while a few years back we used to spend a day or two to cover the same distance due to poor infrastructure," observes Sudi.

According to Sudi, his business in electrical goods and other merchandise, which he buys and transport by road from Dar es Salaam is now thriving as transport costs have significantly gone down.

The same can be said of farm produce, which can now easily reach the country's commercial hub, fresher and at a lower cost to farmers, thanks to reduced transport cost due to improved road infrastructure between rural and urban areas.

Most travellers to Mwanza and the lake Zone region from Dar es salaam would also remember the tedious journey they had to endure, having to cross Kenya and Uganda to reach their destinations.

However, all this is now history following completion to bitumen level of most of the stretch linking Singida, Tabora and Mwanza, which had prompted travelers to opt for the cross border journey.

Indeed not long ago, due to the terrible nature of road network linking the southern and western parts of the country, movement of people and goods was hampered and many considered a punishment if they were transferred to work in the said regions.

The 76.6 kilometre Kidahwe-Uvinza road in Kigoma, which has been upgraded to tarmac level at a cost of 82.044bn/-, is the latest such project in government's efforts to link all regions with reliable road infrastructure.

"During my stay in office, I made it my mission to open up roads in the Western Zone; this region was like an island and I told myself that this situation is unacceptable . We must open up the roads," observed President Jakaya Kikwete when he launched the road recently.

He said the government had tried to open up all corners of the country by constructing roads to tarmac level to link all regions to ease transportation and improve economic interaction.

The just launched road project, is but one of numerous others currently at various stages of implementation in the country. They include the 562 km Sumbawanga-Kinyani- Nyakanazi road, Manyoni- Itigi-Tabora (264 km),Dodoma-Babati (261 km) and Dumila-Turiani- Handeni (174 km). Completion of the projects is expected to open even further economic potential of the said areas.

The country's road network currently covers 35,000 kilometres, which include 12, 786 km major roads with the rest being regional networks. During ten years of the Fourth Phase government, 4, 691 km of tarmac roads have been constructed and an additional 2, 358 km are currently being upgraded to that level.