Shemdoe hails AFCON road progress

DAR ES SALAAM: MINISTER of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Riziki Shemdoe, has commended the progress of road projects linking key Dar es Salaam venues to be used for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Shemdoe said the projects, which had recorded zero progress by July 30, began simultaneously on August 3rd and have now reached an overall average completion rate of about 50 per cent.

He made the remarks on Monday after inspecting the works at several locations, including Kigamboni, Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Leaders Club and Mbweni towards Major General Isamuhyo Stadium.

Kigamboni is leading the progress at 75 per cent, while works around Leaders Club have reached about 70 per cent.

Roads around Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and Mbweni are each at about 20 per cent. Shemdoe said he was encouraged by the pace of work but called for contractors to increase their output to ensure the projects are completed as quickly as possible.

At Kigamboni, contractors told him that the remaining concrete works could be completed at a rate of 50 metres a day. He challenged them to double that output by working from both ends of the section.

“I asked the contractors why they should build 50 metres a day when they could build 100 metres. They committed to working from both ends, building 50 metres from each side to achieve 100 metres a day,” he said.

He also urged contractors working on the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium access roads to accelerate construction, saying the target should be to raise completion from about 50 per cent to at least 60 per cent by the end of the month.

Shemdoe further directed contractors to make use of materials already available on site, including aggregate and cement, to complete sections ready for the next stage of construction.

“We have given them instructions on how they can finish that quickly so that, by the 30th, instead of these roads remaining at 50 per cent, they can reach at least 60 per cent. This is possible,” he said.

A key part of his directive was longer working hours. He urged contractors to move from 12-hour shifts to 24-hour operations, pointing to Kigamboni as an example of what can be achieved through round-the-clock work.

“The Kigamboni contractors are working 24 hours, which is why you can see their progress has reached 75 per cent,” he said.

The projects are intended to improve access and traffic flow to venues that will host matches and training activities during AFCON 2027, while also leaving residents with improved road infrastructure.

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The works currently cover several projects, including the 1.3-kilometre Taifa Road, 430-metre Litapwasi Road and 200-metre Sotele Road, all being upgraded with concrete; the 700-metre Yanga Road, also to concrete standard; the 500-metre Dahomey Road, which is being upgraded to asphalt standard; and the 800-metre Mbalizi Road.

The programme also includes improvements to the VIP parking area at Major General Isamuhyo Stadium.

Shemdoe said the government would continue monitoring the projects and pushing contractors to maintain momentum as preparations for AFCON 2027 gather pace.