New Sumbawanga-Kasanga road cuts fare by 65per cent

THE completion of a road between Sumbawanga town and Kasanga Port terminal in Lake Tanganyika has cut down the bus fare by 65 per cent.

The travelling between the stretch of 107 kilometres roads used to take two days and cost 20,000/- but was reduced to 7,000/- and to less than two hours.

Samweli Mashoto, a trader from the small town of Matai, said before the tarmac road was completed there were merely two buses plying the route unlike now where there are over 10 buses and the ride is smooth.

“The road and port terminal is assisting us in improving our income,” Mr Mashoto said, “We can also make a saving as opposed to the past.”

The Mashoto opinion was seconded by also farmers, traders, and residents who expressed their appreciation and joy to the government for constructing a magnificent 107km road at a cost of 133.2bn/-.

A Kasanga villager, Mika Jonasi said the road set to increase the flow of cargo to the Kasanga terminal hence improving our income as well.

“I lost my pregnant sibling who was rushed to Rukwa Regional Hospital in Sumbawanga for an obstetric emergency operation but she could not make it due to rough and muddy road. She died on her way…,” Mr Jonasi said.

Additionally, the completion of the strategic road is serving as a link and boosts cross-border trade between residents from the Rukwa region and neighbouring Zambia and DR Congo, through the Kasanga Port. The newly refurbished berth at Kasanga Port cost over 4.5bn/-.

Kasanga Port was first constructed between 1995 and 1998 and serves cargo destined for the DRC, Zambia and Burundi.