TARURA empowers over 20 Kongwa community groups in road maintainance

DODOMA: THE Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), through its Rural Roads Improvement for Community Engagement and Socio-Economic Opportunities (RISE) project, is training community groups in Kongwa district, Dodoma Region, on minor road maintenance.

The initiative aims to empower citizens to participate directly in road maintenance through the Community Based Road Maintenance (CBRM) programme.

Twenty-four groups have received training on the proper use of maintenance tools and safety measures, including the use of warning signs and protective equipment.

TARURA Engineer Faizer Mbange provided guidance on the proper use of maintenance tools and emphasised the im- portance of observing safety measures, including the use of warning signs and protective equipment.

TARURA Engineer Faizer Mbange provided guidance on the proper use of maintenance tools and emphasised the im- portance of observing safety measures, including the use of warning signs and protective equipment at work site.

Social Welfare Officer Joha Rashid emphasised the impor- tance of community involvement.

Rashid encouraged participants to act as guardians and motivators for other community members, helping to preserve existing infrastructure.

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Under this programme, residents are encouraged to engage in small tasks such as cleaning drainage systems, maintaining road shoulders and clearing vegetation using basic tools like hoes and machetes.

The objective of the RISE project is to improve rural road access and provide employment opportunities for populations in selected rural areas; and to build capacity in the sustainable management of rural roads, incorporating community engagement approaches.

Overall, the project aims to increase connectivity between regions and to enable smooth movement of people and services across the country.

Five components of the project are rural roads development and maintenance, institutional strengthening and human capital development, community engagement, inclusion and protection, project management, monitoring and evaluation and contingency emergency response.