Stadium pace impresses government

ARUSHA: DEPUTY Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma, commended the China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) for the timely completion of the first phase of the Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in Arusha.

During a weekend visit to the project site, Mwinjuma highlighted that the stadium symbolises the strong friendship between Tanzania and China.

He noted that the concrete construction phase is now complete and the installation of the stadium’s roof is underway.

Mwinjuma commended CRCEG for their exceptional speed and quality of work, highlighting that they finished this first phase 20 days ahead of schedule an unprecedented achievement for a contractor in Tanzania.

He stated, “The contract for this AFCON stadium was signed on March 19, 2024, with official work commencing on July 25 after necessary site procedures were completed. The contractor was responsible for design, construction and procurement, adhering to the project guidelines.”

From the records, concrete pouring began on November 25, 2024. In just 236 days, approximately 50,000 cubic meters of concrete were poured, reflecting the contractor’s skill and professionalism.

Mwinjuma expressed optimism regarding the project’s timely completion, stating, “With this pace, we are confident Tanzania will successfully host the AFCON in 2027. The project is set for completion by July 24 next year, which is an achievable goal.”

He attributed CRCEG’s success to effective collaboration between the government and its various ministries, which ensured timely payments and support.

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“The presence of our consultant, Dar Al-Handasah, and the site’s Ministry of Works office has facilitated swift problem-solving, enabling the contractor to focus on implementation,” he added.

CRCEG Chairman Wang Yusheng expressed gratitude to the Ministry for their trust in the project.

“Since construction began on July 25, 2024, we have encountered challenges, but hard work led to completing the concrete phase 20 days ahead of schedule an important milestone.”

Yusheng stated that the stadium exemplifies C h i n a – T a n z a n i a cooperation and assured that it will be finished on time and to a high standard.

“This stadium will serve as a platform for football, enhance Arusha’s image and boost economic development,” he said.

He acknowledged that while this is a significant first step, there is still work ahead to achieve the project’s goals.