Dar es Salaam. Governments from seven countries in the central corridor have reached an agreement to invest in the Lake Tanganyika basin to transform it into a special economic and business zone.
The Ministry of Transport Permanent Secretary, Prof. Godius Kahyarara, informed The Citizen that the decision was reached during a meeting involving Permanent Secretaries from the Central Corridor states, namely Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“We believe that currently only four countries, namely Tanzania, Burundi, the DRC, and Zambia, are reaping the benefits from the lake,” he said.
Ports dot the shores of that lake, and private enterprises, including mining companies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), are constructing a 450-kilometre road from Manono to Kalemie Port.
They have approached Tanzania with a request to connect Kalemi with the port facilities in the Kigoma Region.
“In Kigoma, investors are ready to enter into a partnership with the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to build the port,” he said.
According to him, the contract will involve the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and mining companies in Zambia.
He noted that the investors are also prepared to collaborate with the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) to enhance the railway from Kigoma to Dar es Salaam Port.
Additionally, discussions are underway to establish a shipyard industry in Kigoma to facilitate the building of vessels to ply Lake Tanganyika.
"We have invited investors because it is a significant investment with substantial benefits, creating a chain from Manono to Kigoma, extending to Dar es Salaam Port and Shanghai, China," he said.
He said the ultimate objective is to have ports in Lake Tanganyika interconnect to serve commercial, economic and trade purposes for the benefit of the entire Lake Tanganyika basin.
He noted that officials from member states will have a meeting in August in Kigoma to chart the way forward.
The plan is to position Kigoma as the central hub to drive development in the Lake Tanganyika Basin.
This strategic decision stems from the abundance of minerals, dense population, ample agricultural resources, and vast farmlands in the region.
“From there, we will initiate the construction of Kalemie Port, which has been allocated $100 million through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement involving CTM companies and the government. Currently, we are seeking funding for the development of Kigoma," he explained.
Traders from Tanzania and the DRC will be included to establish a forum aimed at maximising the benefits of the lake, he said.
This initiative aims to position the lake as a pivotal link between the ocean and neighbouring countries.
"If we implement a standard gauge railway alongside Lake Tanganyika, we establish a connection between the countries surrounding it that lack direct access to the ocean," he said.
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