The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Mkinga Mkinga
2 December 2011
The Ministry of Works has received an allocation of Sh200 billion to pay road contractors who had suspended operations following the failure by the government to release to them the dearly needed funds.
A Cabinet approval in mid November unlocked the critical funding that would now allow resumption of work on at least 14 highway road construction projects across the country.
Works minister Dr John Magufuli delivered the good news yesterday, saying that the allocation was timely as the affected projects were most vital to the country’s economic development.He was speaking in Dar es Salaam during the inauguration of the Mandela Road by the Vice President, Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal.
“I want to express my gratitude to President Jakaya Kikwete and Dr Bilal for their personal efforts in pushing for the release of these funds to my ministry,” Dr Magufuli said.
The minister said about 11,154km of roads were currently under construction, adding that the government’s aim was to connect all regions with a tarmac road network.The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Herbert Mrangu, separately told The Citizen on Saturday that the Treasury released the funds on November 17.
However, while the intervention would minimise delays in some of the projects, the amount secured was still less than half of the total arrears the government owes various contractors.
Last October, the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure said the government owed contractors some Sh425 billion, with many of them having pulled out of the works while others were also threatening to follow suit.
The committee chairman Mr Peter Serukamba who is the MP for Kigoma Urban then revealed that 14 projects totalling 738.4km had been suspended as the ministry coffers had run dry.He warned that six other projects measuring 402.6km were also in danger of suffering a similar fate unless the State intervened urgently.
The release of the funds would come as a big relief to many people even as current heavy rains in parts of the country continue to wreak havoc by sweeping away whole sections of roadworks and bridges.
It may also pacify frustrated leaders and communities like in Tabora where politicians last week vowed to lead public protests to highlight their concerns over stalled road construction works. Area MPs who attended a regional meeting resolved to also seek President Kikwete’s intervention.
Commenting on the Mandela Road, which was funded by European Union, Dr Magufuli said the 15.7kms expressway cost about Sh56 billion in a joint funding with the government.
For his part, Dr Bilal said the road was vital since it connects other major road outlets from the Dar es Salaam port. The VP thanked the EU for its support in developing the roads sector in the country.
He rooted for more support to widen the Dar-Chalinze highway to ease congestion of transit cargo trucks. Dr Bilal asked authorities to ensure finished projects were maintained in order to sustain the present good standards over the years.
The deputy head of European delegation to Tanzania Mr Enrico Strampeli said transportation was one of the essential sectors for a country aspiring to promote fast economic development.
“Development of the road sector has been at the heart of EU assistance, in line with the nation’s declared development priorities. Other transport sub-sectors (railways, ports and airports) also benefit from EU programmes funded by the European Development Fund,” Mr Strampeli said.
Meanwhile, Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Mr Saidi Meck Sadiq asked for the upgrading of 20 feeder roads in the city to regional roads to qualify them for maintenance by Tanroads.
His request was immediately accepted by Dr Magufuli, who asked the RC to formalise it in writing so that the government can work on it. He that noted Dar es Salaam has only 560kms under Tanroads compared to 1000kms in some areas, yet it was key to government revenue collection.
AllAfrica – All the Time