Chinese win contracts worth $150m for Tz roads

BY KENAN KALAGHO,
 EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS WEEK, KAMPALA, UGANDA

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania--Three Chinese firms have won  tenders for several government road projects. The roads are part of trunk route between Egypt and South Africa.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam last week the Minister for Works Dr John Magufuli said Tanzanians travelling to Egypt and South Africa will soon be able to drive on a tarmac road between Mayamaya and Mela after construction in 36 months.
The projects involve the construction of Mayamaya to Mela at a distance of 99.35 kilometres, Mela to Bonga at a distance of 88.8 km; Mangaka to Mtambaswala that involves 65.5 kms. Total cost is about Tsh256 billion ($158,958,080).
The contracts were signed by Tanroads Chief Executive Officer Eng. Patrick Mfugale on behalf of the government and three Chinese firms, China Henan International Cooperation Company Limited (CHICO), China Railway Seventh Group Company Limited and the Sichuan Road and Bridge (Group) Corporation Limited.
Dr Magufuli said Crown TECH-consult Limited and the German based HP Gauff Inginieure Gmbh and KG-JBG are providing consultation services.
 He said the government is implementing its road sector support project 2 (RSSP2) at a cost of Tsh539 billion ($334,681,270) of which 65.8% of the funds are from the African Development Bank, 29.2% is sourced from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the remaining five percent is from internal sources.
He asked the Chinese firms to make sure that they commit themselves in implementing such road projects which would to a greater extent help in transforming the economy of the country.
Late last month the President Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete congratulated his government for the zeal shown in undertaking the different road construction projects.
He said such projects will help to promote economic growth.