Works minister John Magufuli (left) and Coast Regional Commissioner
Evarist Ndikilo disembark from MV Dar es Salaam after arriving at
Mbegani in Bagamoyo District, Coast Region, during a test ride
yesterday. PHOTO | Venance Nestory
By Athuman Mtulya The Citizen Reporter
In Summary
Dar es Salaam. The minister for Works, Dr John
Magufuli, yesterday participated in a test ride of MV Dar es Salaam,
which is set to ferry passengers from the City to Bagamoyo District.
Dr Magufuli was accompanied by acting Dar es
Salaam Regional Commissioner and Ilala District Commissioner Raymond
Mushi, Navy commander Maj-Gen Rogastian Laswai and the Ministry’s
Permanent Secretary Musa Iyombe.
The three-hour journey started at Kivukoni Ferry
in Dar es Salaam at 9:20am to Mbegani in Bagamoyo, which will be the
last station.
“It was a smooth and enjoyable ride. The ferry was
not at maximum speed because it was just a test ride and everything
went well,” said Dr Magufuli after arriving in Mbegani, which is
situated five kilometres south of Bagamoyo Town.
Dr Magufuli explained that they were waiting for
President Jakaya Kikwete to officially inaugurate the ferry, which he
said would be soon after the completion of a permanent docking barge in
the city, which is being constructed by navy engineers.
“Once it is operational, passengers must make sure
that they do not damage the vessel. Let us take care of it so that it
can last for a long time,” he said.
In Bagamoyo, Dr Magufuli was welcomed by Coast
regional commissioner Evarist Ndikilo, who called on the ministry to
improve the infrastructure around.
First, he asked for the rehabilitation of
4-kilometre road, which connects Mbegani-Zinga Village, which is at the
junction of the Bagamoyo-Dar es Salaam Highway.
He also noted that the ministry in collaboration
with the ministry of Infrastructure Development would establish a direct
route to Mbegani from Bagamoyo because without it Bagamoyo residents
would find it difficult to use the ferry.
“Currently, there is no direct route to Mbegani,
thus a person going there will first go to Zinga and then board another
car…this will force him to pay a double fare,” he said.
MV Dar es Salaam, which has the capacity of
carrying 300 passengers, was constructed in September last year by a
Danish company, Western Marine Shipyard Limited, for Sh8 billion, which
was 100 per cent paid by the government.
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