200bn/- released for road works

DAILY NEWS Reporters in Dodoma

A TOTAL of 200bn/- was disbursed by the government last week to settle arrears owed to contractors undertaking road construction projects in some parts of the country, legislators were told here.

The Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Prof Makame Mbarawa, made the revelation when responding to a supplementary question by Special Seats MP, Ms Anna Lupembe, who had complained of the slow pace on implementation of road projects.

“The government understands that the projects have been slow in some areas and last week we disbursed 200bn/- to enable contractors continue with the work,” Prof Mbarawa remarked.

The minister went on and directed officials of the Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads) to visit sites where construction work was undergoing since the contractors had been paid and thus no excuse to stop working.

Ms Lupembe had specifically took issues with a stretch of road connecting Sumbawanga in Rukwa Region and Mpanda in Katavi Region which she claimed has been under construction for over six years.

“With the ongoing rains which have destroyed the already poor road network Katavi has literally been disconnected from Tabora from where it sources most of its supplies,” the MP lamented.

On the other hand, Prof Mbarawa said the railway network linking Mpanda in Katavi to Tabora and Dodoma had been put back to order to provide services. Part of the railway was washed away by rains and made both train and road transport to Mpanda impossible.

Earlier, Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Engineer Edwin Ngonyani, said construction of the road linking Mpanda and Sumbawanga is being implemented in four phases.

Responding to a basic question by Ms Lupembe, the Deputy Minister mentioned the stages as Sumbawanga-Kanazi (75km), Kanazi-Kizi-Kibaoni (76.6km), Kibaoni-Sitalike (72km) and Sitalike-Mpanda (36km).

The Deputy Minister said implementation of the project was satisfactory in three phases and expected to be completed by the end of this year save for a portion of 20km between Kibaoni and Sitalike. Eng. Ngonyani said the remaining part would be constructed once funds are available.