Of the cash, Sh9.426 billion will be used to reconstruct the Mbeya-Zambia and Mbeya-Malawi highways while Sh5 billion is for reconstructing roads within the region that are under Tanroads.
Mbeya. About Sh15.118 billion has been allocated for Mbeya Region in the 2017/18 financial year for the rehabilitation of roads and bridges.
Of the cash, Sh9.426 billion will be used to reconstruct the Mbeya-Zambia and Mbeya-Malawi highways while Sh5 billion is for reconstructing roads within the region that are under Tanroads.
The Acting Tanroads Manager in Mbeya Region, Mr Seleman Lawena, made the statement on Tuesday at a meeting of the region’s road board.
The meeting, which was attended by district commissioners, directors, councils’ chairpersons and construction contractors, was reviewing reports on funds for road projects in every district council.
Mr Lawema explained that in the 2017/18 financial year, international projects in the region had been allocated Sh15.15 billion plus Sh14.415 billion from a roads fund.
According to the acting Tanroads manager, the cash in total will be spent on upgrading Pakati-Masukulu road to a highway that will link Kyela and Rungwe districts. The road has a length of 24.5 kilometres. Besides that, he said there were some challenges that delayed road maintenance works procurement during the 2015/16 financial year, a situation that resulted in projects not to be completed on time.
Due to traffic congestion in Mbeya, Mr Lawena revealed that they plan to rehabilitate the Tanzania-Zambia highway, starting from Igawa Ward in Mbarali District to Tunduma in Songwe Region.
“The expansion will involve the construction of four lanes from Uyole to Mbalizi. The 20-kilometre road will greatly reduce traffic congestion,” he said. Earlier, Mbeya Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla directed experts from all the district councils to stop red-tapes in releasing development project funds disbursed by the government.
