News From Parliament

Kidatu-Taveta road under construction

Eng. Gerson Hosea Lwenge

THE 278-kilometre tarmac trunk road that connects Kidatu with Taveta in Morogoro Region is under construction. Progress has been slow because implementation depends on availability of funds, the Deputy Minister for Works, Eng. Gerson Hosea Lwenge said here on Monday.

Eng. Lwenge told the National Assembly that a 10-kilometre portion that links Kiberege to Ziginali was completed in the year 2006. In 2008 a further 6.1 7 kilometres from Kibaoni to Ifakara Township was accomplished. The 24-kilometre portion that links Kihansi to Mlimba was finished in 1999.

A feasibility study on the portion that extends from Ifakara (Kibaoni) to Ziginali (16.8 km) was finalized last financial year. Construction of this part of the road will start when funds are availed, the deputy minister said. A feasibility study on a portion that extends from Ifakara to Kihansi (126 km) will start this fiscal year.

The last part of the road, which links Mlimba to Taveta, which covers 54.5 kilometres, will receive periodical gravel repairs so it becomes passable throughout the year, depending on the availability of funds, Eng. Lwenge told the legislators.

He was answering a question posed in the National Assembly by Ms Getrude Rwakatare (Special Seats – CCM), who desired to know when construction of the trunk road that links Kidatu to Taveta at tarmac level would be implemented.