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Ministers commit to speedy completion of Kigoma-Bujumbura road
2006-05-15 09:16:49
By Guardian Correspondent, Bujumbura
The Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, Dr Maua Daftari and the Burundi Minister for Communications Jean Dirimana, committed themselves to ensure that the construction to tarmac level of the road linking Kigoma and Bujumbura is completed by 2010 as promised by the two governments.
The pledge was made last week when the two officials inspected the ongoing construction of the road.
Speaking at the Tanzania–Burundi border, Dirimana reiterated his government’s position to see the construction of the road completed in time and directed his county’s engineers and technicians to cooperate with their counterparts on the Tanzanian side towards that objective.
On her part, Dr Daftari told the Burundian Minister that Tanzania was fully committed to the project and would do all it can to see that the Kigoma-Bujumbura road is passable all the year round.
She explained that the completion of the road would not only solve the transport problems facing the two towns but would also enhance cross-border trade and promote cooperation between the people of the two countries.
Earlier, however, the two ministers had to suspend inspection of the road for about three hours after their vehicles stuck in the mud following heavy rains that had destroyed parts of the road.
The vehicles were later pulled out with assistance from the wananchi.
Dr Daftari and her counterpart later made a tour of Kigoma Region by inspecting operations at Kigoma port and Kigoma Railway station. They also visited Kigoma airport.
During the tour she advised officials at Kigoma port and those at the railway station to see how they could reduce the transportation cost of goods that are very high.
She said reducing the costs would also attract Burundi to use the facilities for the transportation of their goods instead of opting for the Mombasa port and road transport across Kenya and Uganda.
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