MV Mwanza ‘Hapa Kazi Tu’ starts operations

Meddy Mulisa

Meli ya MV Mwanza 'Hapa kazi tu' ikiwa katika Ziwa Victoria mkoani Mwanza baada ya kushushwa jana. Meli hiyo inayojengwa na kampuni za Gas Enter Ship-Building Engineering na Lang Nam Corporation za nchini Korea imekamilika kwa asilimia 82. (Picha na Wizara ya Ujenzi nma Uchukuzi)

KAGERA: KAGERA residents have praised the sixth-phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan after the MV Mwanza Hapa Kazi Tu steamer began operations from Bukoba Port on Monday morning.

Hassan Byombalirwa (54) from Kashai Ward in Bukoba Municipal expressed that citizens had eagerly waited for the MV Mwanza ‘Hapa Kazi Tu’ steamer for a long time.

“Many citizens in the Lake Zone regions still remember the tragic sinking of the MV Bukoba steamer in 1996, which greatly affected businesses. We are grateful to the government for reviving marine transport,” he pointed out.

Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Mr Stephen Ndaki, encouraged citizens in the Lake Zone regions Mwanza, Geita, Kagera, Mara, Shinyanga, and Simiyu – to take full advantage of the opportunity by engaging in business and increasing the production of cash and food crops.

“The MV Mwanza ‘Hapa Kazi Tu’ steamer presents a golden opportunity for citizens in the Lake Zone regions. It is a chance to engage in business and boost the production of cash and food crops,” he emphasized.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Marine Services Company Limited (MSLC), Mr Eric Hamiss, highlighted the numerous benefits of the newly-built MV Mwanza Hapa Kazi Tu project for Tanzania and its people.

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He mentioned that it strengthens marine transport and creates employment opportunities for over 2,000 locals.

“As the first ship to be locally built in the country, this project has also facilitated the transfer of skills and knowledge from foreigners to locals, creating a database for future shipbuilding activities,” Mr Hamiss added.

Furthermore, he stated that the vessel, weighing 3,500 tonnes will also operate across the East African bloc of Uganda and Kenya. Efforts are underway to identify more routes for the vessel, which has the capacity to carry 400 tonnes of cargo and 1,200 passengers.”

Deputy Minister for Transport, Mr David Kihenzile, emphasized the government’s significant investment in marine transport.

Mr Kihenzile disclosed that the total cost of the project to build the ship exceeded 49.3 million US dollars (approximately 111bn/-), with South Korea-based companies Gas Entec and Kangnam Corporation being contracted for the construction.