PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday ordered investigations into excessive spending in the extension works for Mwanza Airport and Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA).
“The two projects have consumed nearly
800bn/- or about 345 million US dollars. This is unrealistic and must be
investigated,” the president said in Dar es Salaam when officiating at
the Engineers Registration Board’s (ERB) 14th Annual Engineers Day.
While expansion and renovation of runway
for Mwanza Airport cost 105bn/-, the extension of JNIA Terminal Three,
which include roofing of the terminal structure, installation of cooling
systems (air duct), passenger boarding bridge, sewage systems, fire
detection systems, electricity infrastructure (cabling) as well as
plastering and flooring guzzled 650bn/- in taxpayers money.
“The government allocated 100bn/- for
renovation of regional airports during the 2016/17 financial year. Out
of this amount, we spent about 11bn/- to upgrade the Dodoma Airport to
accommodate turboprop- powered narrow-body commercial passenger planes,
the Bombardier Q400,” President Magufuli said. “Such amount, if well
spent, can help to expand and renovate at least seven regional
airports.”
The president was surprised with the
amount spent in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam-based JNIA projects, faulting
local engineers for not being realistic and honest.
“Drawing and estimates are conducted by
engineers; unfortunately engineers have been exaggerating estimates,” he
said, insisting that the projects must be investigated.
The president, who is a chemical
engineer, said should engineers “decide today, we can reach our targets
of becoming a middle income country.” Ideally, he said engineers were
the architect of industrial developments in any country. He questioned
the fraternity’s preparations to spur industrial-powered economy to
attain the middle income status by 2025.
“We need new ships. What are the
preparations for mechanical engineers to take over this opportunity?” he
queried, “We have allocated 1 trillion/- for the construction of
Standard Gauge line; all these are opportunities.
” He said the government recently
purchased two turboprop-powered commercial passenger aircrafts -
Bombardier Q400 from Canada, noting the planes are scheduled to land in
the country by mid this month.
“These also need engineers to maintain
them ... are you well prepared to take on this responsibilities,” he
asked, receiving loud applause from a parked conference hall in the
city.
There were about 2,500 registered
engineers at the annual event themed “Transforming Tanzania towards
Becoming a Middle Income Country through Industrialisation: The role of
Engineers.”
The president challenged the engineers
to take over the opportunities arising from various sectors in the
country, insisting that his administration was open for assisting local
engineers.
President Magufuli announced that
Tanzania has discovered massive Helium gas alongside natural gas,
minerals; gold, tanzanite, diamonds and gypsum. “We are soon
constructing Hoima-Tanga crude oil pipeline.
How are Tanzanian engineers prepared for this major project?
Don’t you know how to calculate diameter
and radius,” he said, urging the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) to
establish a private engineering company, which can be hired by the state
to undertake various construction works.
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