Over 90pc of KigongoBusisi employees locals

MWANZA: THE Kigongo-Busisi bridge project has created 27,254 jobs, with Tanzanians making up 93.3 per cent of the workforce.

The remaining 6.67 per cent, or 1,957 jobs, are held by foreign workers, according to Mwanza Regional Manager of the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) Engineer Pascal Ambrose.

In addition to direct employment, the project has also generated indirect job opportunities, such as food vending and housing rentals for construction workers.

Engineer Ambrose emphasised the importance of protecting the project’s infrastructure to ensure its long-term benefits.

The bridge project has also served as a valuable training ground for local professionals. TANROADS has introduced programmes to equip Tanzanian engineers with advanced construction techniques, reinforcing the bridge’s status as one of Africa’s largest infrastructure projects.

Engineer Ambrose noted that the bridge will not only serve as a vital economic and infrastructural link for the Mwanza Region and neighbouring areas but also promote regional integration and economic growth across the Great Lakes region.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily News in Mwanza, Engineer Ambrose detailed the benefits the bridge will bring.

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He revealed that the project, which has cost 716.3 billion Tanzanian shillings and is fully funded by the government, will ensure year-round, 24/7 accessibility, replacing the ferry crossings that have long been plagued by congestion.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to improve regional connectivity and stand as a testament to Tanzanian engineering excellence.

Engineering students from universities across the country are hosted annually at the site to learn about the bridge’s advanced construction techniques.

Engineer Ambrose noted that the project has created between 750 to 1,000 jobs per month, contributing significantly to the economy.

The project’s consulting engineers, Yooshin Engineering Corporation and Cheil Engineering of South Korea, are overseeing the work, with 24 graduate engineers, 21 of whom are Tanzanians, directly involved in construction.

Despite achieving 94.3 per cent completion, the project has faced challenges, including rising water levels in Lake Victoria in 2019 and 2020, which required design adjustments, as well as unexpected geological conditions that necessitated changes to the original plans.

Nonetheless, Engineer Ambrose remains optimistic about the bridge’s transformative impact and urged all stakeholders to support its timely completion.