The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has asked the government to hold talks with three residents who have refused to vacate their premises to pave way for the construction of Kigamboni Bridge`s approach roads.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr Zitto Kabwe, made the call in Dar es Salaam when the committee toured the bridge’s site and Dege Eco Village project to inspect the construction progress.
The projects are being undertaken by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in collaboration with the government. “We call on the government to hold talks with the four residents and discuss with them their claims in order to speed up construction of the bridge,” he said.
Earlier, the project manager, Eng Karim Mattaka, had told the committee that the residents’ refusal to vacate the area was one of the challenges hampering smooth implementation of the project.
“We had planned to complete construction of the project in January 2015…but due to such challenges the construction period will take six more months beyond the planned time,” he said.
However, the committee challenged the Fund, in collaboration with other partners, to speed up the construction by solving some of the challenges collectively in order to complete the bridge before President Jakaya Kikwete finishes his term of office.
“It will be very disappointing if President Kikwete fails to inaugurate the project which has been initiated during his term,” said the PAC chairman.
Mr Kabwe asked the Fund to come up with technical plans that will help speed up the construction before the planned period that has already been delayed.
He also asked TANRODS, in collaboration with the Fund, to form a technical team that will help deal with some of the challenges that might be encountered after the completion of the project.
When briefing the committee on the construction progress, Mr Mattaka mentioned some of the challenges as congestion of vehicles on the bridge’s approach roads and traffic jams on some of the roads leading to the bridge.
Commenting on the construction of public houses in the Dege Eco Village project, Mr Zitto asked NSSF to ensure the houses to build benefited members of the Fund and the public at large.
“We (PAC) commend you (NSSF) for your work (Project)… but through the project you should give back beneficial returns to the fund’s members and the public at large,” he noted.
NSSF Director General, Dr Ramadhan Dau, told the committee that the village project was being constructed by the Fund in collaboration with Azimio Company, adding that by 2016 about 7000 houses would have been completed.
The project, to cost some 653 million US dollars, is being constructed on 300 hectares in Kigamboni.
By ANNE ROBI, Tanzania Daily News