ARMFA appoints Tanzanian as new president for two-year term

ARUSHA: THE African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) has appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania Roads Fund, Engineer Rashid Kalimbaga, as its president for a two-year term.

The handover ceremony from the outgoing President, Mr Essaie Mousa of Cameroon, to Eng Kalimbaga was held yesterday in Arusha and witnessed by the Minister for Works, Mr Abdallah Ulega.

Speaking after the handover, Mr Ulega said the transition marks a strategic milestone for collective reflection on the future management and financing of transport infrastructure across Africa.

He noted that roads remain a key pillar of economic transformation on the continent, as road transport continues to be the most widely used mode for moving goods and passengers. Mr Ulega said the role of road transport in the economic development of Tanzania and Africa largely depends on the availability of well-developed and properly maintained road infrastructure.

In this regard, he said decisions made at the national level have a significant bearing on the achievement of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, dubbed “The Africa We Want.” He emphasised that the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in creating a single market of 1.3 billion people depends heavily on the quality of road transport services across African countries, noting that more than 80 per cent of goods are transported by road.

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“It is an honour for our country to host the leadership of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association. ARMFA was established to bring together road maintenance funds across Africa to share experiences, explore financing strategies and promote technology transfer,” Mr Ulega said.

He added: “Building roads is one thing, but maintaining them is a much bigger task, which is why President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consistently advocated for sustainable road maintenance.

In Tanzania, the value of our road network exceeds 38tri/-, making maintenance a core responsibility of the Tanzania Roads Fund.” For his part, ARMFA President and Tanzania Roads Fund CEO, Eng Rashid Kalimbaga said the association’s goal is to ensure that roads in all member countries are well maintained and passable to facilitate smooth and efficient trade within and across African borders.

“As road maintenance funds, we are entrusted with protecting and preserving road infrastructure. Our unity allows us to collaborate and share experiences. Road maintenance is costly, and many countries face funding constraints, but once a road is built, the real work begins in maintaining it so it can contribute meaningfully to national economies,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Tanzania Roads Fund Board, Eng Mussa Natty, said leadership transition has been a valued tradition since ARMFA’s establishment in 2003, helping to sustain the association’s vitality, innovation and strength in fulfilling its mandate.