The government has admitted the fact that, most dilapidated
roads in rural areas takes long time to be repaired due primarily to less money
which has been invested in the recently established Tanzania Rural Roads Agency
(TARURA) an aspect that makes it impossible to execute duties within set
timeframe. The government established the agency purposely to help speed up
rural road construction activities in collaboration with district council’s authorities
countrywide whereby 90 percent of its work execution is targeted to road repair
while 10 percent is for the construction of new roads. The deputy minister of
State in President’s office George Kakunda said in parliament today that, from
the 90 percent of the workload in road repair works which are intended to be
done by the agency, only 57 percent is accomplished. The
minister was responding to the question which was earlier raised by Mbulu urban
legislator Zacharia Paulo Isaay (CCM) who wanted to know why the rural road
agency is slacking in executing its duties as intended an aspect that most roads
remains unattended for longer.
Andrew Chenge
The legislator raised a complaint and cited a 40
km stretch of a road in his constituency which is not yet repaired for long
time even before the starting of long rains, leave alone by now whereby it is
in bad shape after the rains. In responding to this query, the Chairman of the
National Assembly Andrew Chenge directed the question to the deputy minister for
Works, Transport and Communication Elias Kwandikwa who said that about Tshs.
814 m/- has been set aside for the road which will be repaired soon. The
minister also noted that, the government had undertaken the task of valuing the
damages caused by the recent rains and that is another aspect that an effective
work has not yet been taken to repair roads in the country. He answered a
supplementary question which was raised by Mbulu rural legislator Fratay Gregory Massey (CCM ) who wanted to know
steps taken so far by the government of valuing
the damaged roads in rural areas which needs urgent attention. In
addition to this question, another supplementary question was raised by Mpwapwa
legislator Malima Lubeleje (CCM) who wanted to know plans by the government of
increasing the budget fund allocated for the TARURA agency so that it
effectively works as required. The minister noted that, the reports of the
damaged road infrastructures would be released tomorrow by the Tanzania Roads Agency
(TANROADS) whereas plans by the government to increase the budget fund for the
rural road agency will be considered as in accordance with the availability of
fund.
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