Tanzania’s infrastructure push to cement regional ties, says Minister

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s strategic investment in infrastructure is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing regional integration, the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, has said.

Speaking on Sunday, 22 June 2025, Prof Kabudi underscored Tanzania’s vital geographical position within East Africa and reiterated President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s steadfast commitment to bolstering economic cooperation across the East African Community (EAC).

“True regional integration cannot be realised through policy alone. It requires physical connectivity that allows the free movement of people, goods and services,” Prof Kabudi stated.

He emphasised that robust infrastructure remains the backbone of regional unity, warning that without reliable roads, bridges and transport systems, the aspiration of a fully integrated East Africa would remain unattainable.

Prof Kabudi pointed to the newly inaugurated JP Magufuli Bridge as a prime example of infrastructure that advances not only economic objectives but also diplomatic and social cohesion.

“This infrastructure strengthens our economic partnerships while fostering bonds of brotherhood among nations. It represents both practical connectivity and symbolic unity,” he said.

Highlighting Tanzania’s unique role as a coastal gateway for landlocked neighbouring countries, Prof Kabudi noted that such developments serve wider regional interests.

“We are not just building roads and bridges for Tanzania, but creating gateways that will benefit the entire region,” he affirmed.