Revamping Tanzania’s vital transport links

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged US$2.5bn to support priority infrastructure projects in Tanzania

Mumina Wa-Kyendo, AfDB’s chief transport engineer for Tanzania, revealed that over 70% of the funding is dedicated to transport infrastructure, covering roads, railways, and airports. Among the key projects benefiting from this investment is the Tanzanian segment of the multinational Tanzania/Kenya 400-km Bagamoyo – Pangani – Tanga – Horohoro/Lunga Lunga – Mombasa – Malindi road. This corridor, currently under construction in both nations, is part of the broader Coastal Transport Corridor stretching from Lamu, Kenya, to Mtwara, Tanzania.

Infrastructure boost

According to Wa-Kyendo, AfDB has allocated US$100mn for the Tanzanian portion of the project, which, once completed, will enhance mobility along the East African coast. The improved infrastructure is expected to cut the travel distance between Dar es Salaam and Tanga by approx 90 km, saving more than an hour of travel time. It will also create a new route to Tanga via Bagamoyo and Pangani, reducing reliance on the Central Corridor.

Other priority projects funded by AfDB include the Nyakanazi – Kabingo – Kasulu – Kumnazi road in western Tanzania, the Mawala – Masasi road in the south, the Tabora – Kigoma – Uvinza railway extending to Musongati in Burundi, and Dodoma (Msalato) International Airport in Tanzania’s capital.

Wa-Kyendo made these remarks in Tanga after a two-day inspection of the Bagamoyo-Pangani-Tanga stretch. The mission included representatives from the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, Tanzania’s Ministry of Works and Transport, Kenya’s Ministry of Roads and Infrastructure, the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), and the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA).

AfDB’s funding is contingent on the efficient execution of projects, which is crucial for securing additional support. Wa-Kyendo emphasised the importance of transport infrastructure in facilitating trade and regional integration, urging greater collaboration between the Northern and Central Corridor transit authorities.

“We need to have a region where transport works, put in place roads and railways of the best standards. This is because national and supra-national interests sometimes conflict,” Wa-Kyendo noted.

He also highlighted an oversight in the management of the corridor linking the Northern and Central corridors, calling for urgent intervention by EAC Partner States.

The EAC is currently conducting a feasibility and funding options study for the Kenya/Uganda multinational Kisumu – Busia / Jinja – Kakira – Malaba (including Busitema – Busia Spur) Expressway, aimed at improving transport efficiency along the Northern Corridor.

Also read: Tunisia to upgrade road infrastructure through AfDB support