Msimbazi basin project gets 83bn/- Dutch support
DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has signed grant agreement worth 30 million Euros (82.8bn/-) with the Netherlands through the Dutch Government Investment Agency – Invest International to co-finance the Msimbazi Basin Development Project.
The project is expected to transform the flood-prone but economically important lower Msimbazi River basin of Dar es Salaam through a set of integrated investments that aim to reduce the impact of flooding, catalyse sustainable urban development and improve livability.
The agreement is in line with the Third National Five Year Development Plan 2021/22–2025/26 and part of a broader government agenda that seeks to build a competitive industrial economy for human development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Dr Natu Mwamba said the project is co-financed by other development partners namely; World Bank and the government of the Kingdom of Spain.
The total cost for the project is 260 million US dollars (about 651bn/-). According to Dr Mwamba, the Kingdom of Spain will issue 30 million US dollars (about 75.2bn/-) and the World Bank will provide 200 million US dollars (501bn/-) concessional loans.
She said the Msimbazi Basin Development Project will provide an integrated long-term solution on flood control infrastructure through river channeling, river-bank protection works, sediment control, erosion control; widening and raising the Jangwani Bridge to accommodate flash flood events. She said the project will also develop Msimbazi wetland into Msimbazi City Park and relocate the existing BRT bus depot facilities at Jangwani basin to Ubungo Maziwa as it is always being affected by the floods along Msimbazi basin.
“Floods at Jangwani area has cost the government a lot in terms of revenue loss and also families living near Msimbazi basin which are highly affected during the rainy season,” she said.
The PS said frequent floods have been affecting economic activities at the area during the rainy season every year as it makes the Jangwani road which connects the city centre and Kariakoo impassable.
“Therefore, these interventions will improve the economic as well as social wellbeing of a number of people of Dar es Salaam,” she said.
According to the PS, the signing of the grant agreement signals the mutual cooperation between the two countries since in 2012, in which Netherlands have been promoting sustainable development in Tanzania.
Other projects include, ORIO Rehabilitation of Diagnostic Services where the Netherlands has been supporting rehabilitation of diagnostic services at 34 hospitals in 21 Regions in Tanzania through grants of Euro 11.5 million.
The other one is Dar es Salaam Integrated Waste Project with the purpose to support carrying a feasibility study so as to develop new and improved waste disposal facilities and services for the city through a grant of 840,000 Euros.
