THE Minister for East African Cooperation Samwel Sitta
yesterday tabled in Parliament his ministry’s budget estimates for the year
2013/14 promising to continue giving priority among other development plans in
areas of economic infrastructure development that links Tanzania with other
five member states. He told the house that, construction and improvements of
transport infrastructure particularly ports, railways networks airports,
energy, marine and roads projects are among the priorities for Tanzania in the
integration of the East African Community (EAC). According to him, the ministry
will continue to coordinate the implementation of the national projects which
have been approved that included the regional infrastructure development as
already planned. Among the projects he mentioned the details of the design
study of the much awaited Isaka-Kigali/Keza to Musongati railway network
linking Tanzania with Rwanda and Burundi has been completed and is awaiting
construction to go through. In line of the EAC regional infrastructure
development strategy, the Heads of State approved regional infrastructure
priority projects of regional importance in November 2012 and for Tanzania the
projects includes construction and rehabilitation of central railway line to
standard gauge that links Tanzania and Rwanda and Burundi. Others are from Voi-Teveta-Holili-Moshi-Arusha
railway line to link Tanzania and Kenya, Tanga-Arusha-Musoma railway line and
the development of Mtwara-Mbamba Bay railway. The signing favors Tanzania to
effectively utilize her strategic geographical location. Geographically, the
minister noted that, Tanzania borders with all East Africa Community partner
states, some of which have no direct access to the sea. The development of
ports will enable the country to fully utilize its potential. In view of this,
the Minister outlined projects such as to increase the depth of berth No. 1-7 at Dar e salaam port, and the construction
of new berths No. 13-14. The construction of Maruhumbi port in Zanzibar as well
as construction of the dry dock and roll in roll off between ports of Dar es
Salaam, Pemba, and Tanga. He further noted the maintenance of inland waterways,
ports in the Great Lakes of Victoria and Tanganyika. All these projects would
enable Tanzania to link its economic developments with member states. In road
projects the minister has outlined construction of
Tunduma-Sumbawanga-Mpanda-Kigoma road which links Tanzania with Burundi and
Rwanda, another one is Nyanguge-Musoma-Sirare road which links Tanzania with
Kenya and Uganda. Rehabilitation of the main roads such as Morogoro and Nelson
Mandela in the city of Dar es Salaam will help reduce the congestion at Dar es
Salaam port. Others are the planned Banana-Tangi Bovu, and the expansion of
Morogoro road. In the energy development projects, the ministry will concentrate
on the power generation and distribution at river Rusumo Waterfalls which h
will benefit Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. In view of the development of the
energy, he said that, the EAC partner states have finalized a feasibility study
for the power interconnectivity of the Tanzania national grid to Kenya from
Singida via Isanya (Kenya)passing through Ariusha and Namanga border post as
part of the implementation of the main power line project for
Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya. He said his ministry has continued to coordinate the discussion
that will enable the implementation of various agreements for the establishment
of Murongo/Kikagati power generation project which is expected to generate 16
megawatts. Furthermore, he said that, the ministry in collaboration
with the stakeholders coordinated and participated in the 6th EAC
Petroleum Conference held in February 2013 in Arusha attracted more than 900
companies and stakeholders from different parts of the world involved in
mineral, gas and oil exploration. “This enabled partner states including Tanzania
to showcase available investment opportunities in these important sectors’. He
said. In the development of the aviation sector, the
ministry will continue to participate in the preparation of cheaper navigation
systems framework based on the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The
GNSS framework will be applied at international and national airports in the
partner states. The preparation of the framework is expected to be completed
this 2013/14 financial year. Moreover, the ministry continued to coordinate and
participate in the negotiations for the establishment of regional frameworks
for aircraft accidents and incidents investigations. However, he told the house
to approve and grant it to spend at least Sh. 20.4 bn/ for his ministry for the
year 2013/14. Out of the money, he said Sh.19 bn will be directed for other
charges while Sh. 1.4 bn/ is for personal emoluments. This is an increased of
23 percent from the previous 16.6 bn/. 26 bn.
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