For the first time in history, the government has awarded several local contractors popularly known as wazalendo huge tender to construct a multibillion tarmac road covering 50 kilometres in Mara Region.
The Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) Manager in Mara Region Engineer, Emmanuel Korosso, made the revelation during his presentation to the Regional Road Board meeting that sat in Musoma.
He mentioned the project as Makutano Juu- Sanzate road (50 km) which will be executed by Buntu Bridge JV contractors, which is made up of 10 local contractors. The government will pump about 50bn/- to execute the project according to Eng Korosso.
“For the first time, wazalendo (locals) have won this huge tender of constructing the tarmac road in our region,” Eng Emmanuel told the meeting describing the development as good news that Tanzanians should be proud of. “We need to be proud of this.
It means that 50bn/- will remain here (Tanzania),” Mr Korosso who was repeatedly hailed for outstanding performance by majority of Mara Regional Road Board Members said. The members included legislators from Mara, District Commissioners (DC’s) and District Council Chairpersons.
Bunju Bridge JV has already been assigned the job and is at the site, he said. Eng Korosso added that construction of the road marks the beginning of the Makutano Juu- Mto wa Mbu highway (452 km) which is tailored to link residents of Mara and Arusha regions through the world’s famous Serengeti National Park on Mara Region side.
The government has agreed to skip part of the highway cutting across SENAPA in a bid to ensure that the project does not damage ecology of the park.
Construction of the road is scheduled to be executed in different phases and already feasibility study covering Makutano Juu- Natta- Mugumu- Loliondo and the Natta- Fort Ikoma has been completed , according Eng Korosso. Officials say the second phase of the project will involve Sanzate-Natta- Mugumu road covering 74 km.
Construction of the highway is one of the key promises made by President Jakaya Kikwete to Mara residents a few years ago and it is designed to help in transforming the lives of local communities living near SENAPA.
Meanwhile, the fourth phase government has pumped nearly 14 bn/- representing 97.9 per cent of funds set aside to improve road network by TANROADS in Mara during 2012/2013 financial year.
Close to 15bn/- has been set aside for similar work in 2013/2014. The budget has risen by four per cent compared to the previous financial year, according to Eng Korosso.
Mara is rated as one of the regions with best road networks in the country, thanks to the government for continuing to release sufficient funds for development of regional, trunk and district roads network in the region.
Improvement of road network here has made it possible for thousands of tourists entering and leaving the country via the Tanzanian/ Kenya Sirari Border Post to prefer using the short cut route of Tarime- Mugumu road when visiting Serengeti National Park.
By MUGINI JACOB, Tanzania Daily News
