Major facelift for Dodoma
DAR ES SALAAM: A SIGNIFICANT milestone was achieved on Thursday with the signing of a grant agreement between Tanzania and the government of Japan, worth 4.07 billion Yen (approximately 68.5 billion/-).
The funding is designated for the construction of the Dodoma City Inner Ring Road, which aims to enhance traffic flow and improve the living environment in the capital. The project involves constructing approximately 3.1 kilometres of new roads and expanding 3.4 km of the existing ones.
This initiative is designed to facilitate logistics, improve traffic flow and boost economic activity in the region. Key features include a new four-lane section extending from the Image Roundabout to the Makulu Roundabout, as well as widening the existing two-lane stretch from the Bahi Roundabout to the Image Roundabout into four lanes.
During the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Dr Natu Mwamba said that the project will significantly enhance the efficiency of various economic activities.
“The successful implementation of this project is expected to lead to a more modern, efficient and sustainable urban environment in Dodoma. It is a crucial step towards enhancing the city’s infrastructure and supporting the growth of the Central Corridor,” she said.
The agreements included an exchange of notes between the Ministry of Finance and the Embassy of Japan, along with a grant agreement between the Ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“The grant agreement we have signed today represents Japan’s commitment, which will be implemented by JICA on behalf of the Japanese government,” Dr Mwamba explained.
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Dr Mwamba noted that the supported projects align with the Third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III 2021/22 – 2025/26), which focuses on enhancing competitiveness and industrialisation for human development by increasing efficiency and productivity with available resources.
“This is a continuation of growing support, as reflected by the increasing number of bilateral development projects backed by the Japanese government,” she added.
Tanzania has benefited significantly from Japanese assistance, particularly in agriculture, water, health, energy, transportation, urban development, financial governance and education through capacity building.
Indeed, FYDP III prioritises developing the new capital, emphasising the need to bring public services closer to the people.
The plan focuses on improving infrastructure for transport, education, health, water and government offices in response to the growing population. Key interventions include constructing and enhancing travel and transport infrastructure, including both outer and inner ring roads.
Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, Mr Yusushi Misawa, underlined the importance of the inner ring road for developing the Central Corridor’s Road network.
“This project is crucial for facilitating smooth traffic flow through the centre of Dodoma, where residential, commercial and business facilities are concentrated,” Mr Misawa stated.
He recalled that during the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7) in 2019, Japan emphasised the importance of strengthening ties with Africa through the Indo-Pacific Ocean and developing quality infrastructure to promote connectivity for economic development.
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“The Dodoma City ring road is a project that will help achieve this goal and JICA has decided to provide a grant for its implementation,” Mr Misawa added.
The Chief Representative of JICA Tanzania, Mr Hitoshi Ara, stated that the project aims to improve traffic flow and the living environment in Dodoma City by diverting large vehicle traffic.
“The project will also enhance the convenience of the East-West and North-South Africa highway networks, significantly reducing traffic accidents through improved safety measures such as the installation of streetlights and reflective studs,” he said.
Mr Hitoshi reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to supporting the Tanzanian government in its efforts to become an industrialised middle-income country, as outlined in the Five-Year Development Plan III.
