DODOMA OUTER RING ROAD: Recipe for economic growth

THE Dodoma Outer Ring Road project is anticipated to be a world-class infrastructure that will generate enormous economic activity in and around the capital, this is why, the government wants the project to be fast-tracked.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Sunday visited the project and demanded the contractor to speed up the pace of construction, so that the robust project execution be completed on time and at the required international standards.

The construction of the road covering 112.3 kilometres is financed by the government in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), to the tune of 215 million US dollars (about 497bn/-).

Much as the project will transform the outlook of Dodoma City and become one of the landmarks in the capital, it will also connect Tanzania to Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), experts say.

According to project write up, its execution is a direct response to the need for improved logistics services to cope with the expected population boom and expansion of economic activities in the political capital of Dodoma.

It comprises construction to the bitumen standard of a new dual-carriage way around Dodoma. The project provides vital infrastructure necessary for a more efficient development of the fast-growing Dodoma metropolitan region.

Furthermore, it will also greatly boost regional integration for Tanzania and its neighbours given that the project site lies at the crossroads of two major continental road corridors — the central corridor which connects the Port City of Dar es Salaam to the Tanzanian interior and the Trans-African Highway 4 (TAH4).

The project will also contribute to easier and faster transportation of tourists and agricultural produce within and outside Dodoma City/region. It has four main components, namely –road construction and supervision, related development and empowerment of women, capacity building and project management.

Premier Majaliwa said on Sunday: “I’m pleased to see the work is going on well … we really want to see this project is completed on time, if possible, be completed before schedule.

The government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan is executing projects of such magnitude so as to benefit all Tanzanians, it is therefore, our responsibility as leaders, to make sure we closely supervise them, so that they are complete on schedule and ensure they observe standards,” he insisted.

Premier Majaliwa made the remarks when he inspected the progress of the project, which is part of the government’s initiative to develop the country’s new capital.

The Third Five –Year Development Plan (FYDP III) has placed top priority in developing the new capital. The document insists that key among the reasons for relocating the hub of government activities to Dodoma was the need to reposition public services closer to the people.

FYDP III for developing the new capital entailed the construction and strengthening of infrastructure for transport and travel, education, health, water, and government offices in response to increased demand from the increase in population.

Key interventions include construction and strengthening of travel and transport infrastructure which include the outer-ring road.

Premier Majaliwa also demanded the consultant engineers to make sure they effectively supervise the project execution, for it to meet the specifications provided in the contract.

Speaking to communities around the project, Mr Majaliwa tasked the ‘wananchi’ to be vigilant and protect the equipment used in the execution of the project by discarding theft and vandalism.

“Take action against those who intend to steal equipment from the project. We want to have a good road with quality standards,” he said.

Moreover, Mr Majaliwa has directed the Tanzania Road Agency (TANROADS) in collaboration with Ministry of State, President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) to set up a procedure of engaging and empowering local young people, who are hired in the construction of various projects in the country, so that they can be experts used more by local construction companies.

For his part, the Acting Manager of TANROADS Dodoma, Eng Salome Kabunda said that the project will help to reduce traffic in the city of Dodoma and it has provided employment to more than 800 Tanzanians.

“The implementation of the project will enable the construction of four health centres in Mahomanyika, Veyula, Nala and Ihumwa. The project will also facilitate the purchase of four ambulances, one for each centre,” Eng Salome said.

She added that the first phase of Nala-Veyula-Mtumba to the dry port of Ihumwa, (spanning 52.5kilometres ​​will take 39 months to be completed, while the second phase covering 60km from Ihumwa Atumbulu to Nala dry port started on September 1st, 2020 will take 43 months.

Laying a foundation stone for the 112.3-km road project on February 8th this year, President Samia Suluhu Hassan paid tribute to AfDB Group for providing funding for the project that will transform the face and image of the country’s capital Dodoma.

The Bank Group is financing 64 per cent of this or 137.3 million US dollars (about 317bn/-). The government of Tanzania’s contribution is 34.5 million US dollars (about 79.7bn/-), while an additional 41.8 million US dollars (about 94.8bn/-) comes from the Africa Growing Together Fund, financed by the People’s Bank of China.

“By funding this project, the bank has really demonstrated that it is the bank of Africa which is really committed to African development,” said President Samia at an event which was also attended by AfDB’s President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

Dr Adesina went on to say that the project will be a world-class infrastructure that will generate enormous economic activity in and around Dodoma, as well as connect Tanzania to Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to him, the project’s main purpose is to help Tanzania achieve more inclusive and sustainable economic growth by developing critical transportation infrastructure that contributes considerably to the country’s poverty reduction efforts.

He also said that the project’s goal is to give Dodoma City, the rest of the country, and neighbouring nations in the EAC area-efficient road transportation.