EAC heads launch key road in Arusha

EAC Heads of State have launched the construction works for the Arusha-Holili/Taveta road which will provide an additional link between the Central and Northern Transport corridors.

The launch of the Tanzanian section of the Arusha-Holili road which will link up with the Taveta-Voi road on the Kenyan side comes in the wake of the 17th Ordinary EAC Heads of State

Presidents John Magufuli (Tanzania), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and Second Vice Presidents Joseph Butore (Burundi) and James Wani Igga (South Sudan) officially launched the works at Tengeru Township on the Arusha-Moshi road. Rwandan President Paul Kagame was represented at the event by his EAC Affairs Minister, Ms. Valentine Rugwabiza.

The Heads of State reaffirmed their commitment to facilitate intra-regional trade by implementing the Community’s ambitious 10-year Infrastructure Development Strategy especially through the construction of a vast and reliable road network in addition to ports, railways and power generation plants.

President Magufuli who is also the Chairman of the Heads of State said that the road would include the expansion of the 14.1 km stretch from Arusha to Tengeru and the 28.3 km Arusha by-pass which combined would cost US$1.3 million.

He emphasized the need for building high quality roads noting that in Tanzania 67 per cent of cargo was transported by road. He urged the road contractor to ensure the road was built to the required standards and warned that cancelling contracts due to poor performance was not unusual for him as a former roads minister.

He said industrialization was also a priority for the region saying this was the surest way to solve high rates of unemployment and poverty.

“We produce cotton, wool and leather which are used for manufacturing clothes and shoes. I don’t see why our people should be wearing second hand clothes and shoes.” he added.

On the EAC One Area Network which is now operational in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, Dr. Magufuli said it was regrettable that Tanzania was yet to join the network due to rampant corruption at the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

He revealed that TCRA had lost TShs. 400 billion ($183 million) in irregular deals, adding that those involved had not only been sacked but would also be investigated and prosecuted.

President Kenyatta said East Africans were ahead of their governments in the integration process, adding that the onus was on governments to enable people do business by removing barriers to trade.

“Governments should build roads, pool energy sources to ensure reliable power supply across the region and build industries. We should abandon the artificial borders put in place by the colonial powers which divided communities and now pose barriers to trade and movement of people. Let us eliminate these borders so that our people can move and trade freely,” Kenyatta said.

“Value addition and manufacturing will increase our share of trade on the world market which is currently low,” he added expressing optimism that the liquid petroleum gas from Tanzania would soon be available for sale on the Kenyan market.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is responsible providing financing for the project.

AfDB’s Eastern Africa Regional Representative, Mr. Gabriel Negatu, said the completed road would reduce transport costs between Arusha and Voi to facilitate cross-border trade, enhance tourism, improve accessibility to markets and social services, thereby contributing to poverty reduction.