Tanzania Transport Sector Receives Support and Updates

According to a recent Daily News report, the Tanzania Minister for Infrastructure Development, Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa, has recently announced several updates in programs and support to the Tanzania transport sector.

One of the most recent additions is the announcement that one of the country’s largest transportation operating services, the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), will receive more than TZS 40 billion from the Chinese government as well as technical support in order for it to recapitalize.

In addition, the Daily News also reported Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa, as saying that the governments of Tanzania and Zambia were also currently working with various other international financial institutions to recapitalize the authority.

Dr. Kawambwa went on to say that, in the meantime, a US-based firm, the Joint International Business Group LLC, has also shown an interest in joining forces with the Dar es Salaam Transport Corporation (UDA).

According to Dr. Kawambwa, once the talks had been completed, Joint International Business Group LLC will provide the UDA with 200 buses as well as technical assistance.

“Our objective is to rescue UDA and make it a key partner in implementing the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transport project in 2010,” said Dr. Kawambwa in a recent address to the National Assembly.

In addition to these changes in support for the country’s transportation system, the minister also explained that in order to assist with the decongestion of the Dar es Salaam port, the Tanzania Port Authority was planning to build two additional container terminals in 13 and 14 berths as well as a 10-storey building to serve as a yard for cars that had been offloaded from ships and the yard that was currently being used for this would then be used to reserve containers.

Dr. Kawambwa went on to indicate that the Tanzania construction project on the Kigamboni Bridge would also begin during this fiscal year and that currently there were six interested bidders who would like to join forces with the National Social Security Fund in order to complete the project by March 2010.

According to the minister, the country’s government, in partnership with the Tanzania Revenue Authority, had recently formed a task force order to eliminate the existing loopholes in collections through Road Fund.

Finally, as far as the country’s network of roads was concerned, Dr. Kawambwa explained in the Daily News that all of the regional headquarters except four had been connected with tarmac roads.