MWANZA: A TOTAL of 14.42bn/- was allocated for road maintenance in Mwanza Region during the 2023/24 financial year, representing 10 per cent of the region’s actual needs.
The Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) Regional Manager, Engineer Pascal Ambrose said this during a presentation on the implementation of road maintenance projects for the period from December 2023 to June 2024 at a road board meeting held in Mwanza region.
Eng Ambrose explained that the allocated funds amount to 86 per cent of the previous financial year’s budget of 16.717bn/-.
He said the planned road maintenance activities are aimed at ensuring roads remain passable and continue to support the region’s economic activities.
Eng Ambrose noted that the budget would cover several key projects, adding that a total of 9.9bn/- will be spent on periodic road maintenance, which will cover 239.22 kms of roads.
Moreover, 14m/- is allocated for the maintenance of 0.3 kms of roads and 1.6bn/- will be dedicated to repair three bridges.
Other allocations include 140.5bn/- for constructing two new bridges and 3.8bn/- for emergency road projects, which will involve the construction of 161.8 kms of roads. Eng Ambrose also revealed that 2.9bn/- were approved for development projects in the 2023/24 financial year.
These funds, drawn from the Road Fund and the government’s consolidated fund, will be used for the construction and rehabilitation of 250 kms of regional roads and seven bridges.
“We have received approval to announce tenders for constructing 39 kms of tarmac roads, valued at 60.9bn/- ” said Eng Ambrose.
Furthermore, the regional manager shared that 7.4bn/- had been received from the government for road maintenance in the 2023/24 financial year, representing 50.42 percent of the planned budget.
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Another 3.8bn/- was allocated for development projects, including 616m/- from the Road Fund and 3.1bn/- from government funding.
In a separate development, Sengerema Member of Parliament Mr Hamisi Tabasamu expressed frustration over delays in the construction of the Sengerema-Buchosa road, which serves residents of Sengerema, Buchosa and Geita rural constituencies.
“This road remains a major challenge. Despite various measures, no new contractor has been assigned to replace the previous one who was removed,” Mr Tabasamu said.
In response to the concern, Eng Ambrose clarified that procurement processes were underway, with a tender already announced.
“After the contract was terminated on May 24 this year, the project was reassessed and referred to TANROADS’ head office for further evaluation. We submitted our assessment to the Ministry of Works in July and the procurement approval process is now in progress,” Eng Ambrose noted.
Mwanza Regional Commissioner Mr Said Mtanda directed the Mwanza Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Mr Balandya Elikana to send an official letter to the Ministry of Works to follow up on the delays in the construction of the SengeremaBuchosa road, as raised by Mr Tabasamu.
