The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) has directed the President’s Office - PO-RALG to review the contract of Sichuan Road and Bridge Group Corporation, a foreign contractor, due to significant delays in implementing the first phase of the TACTIC project in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region.
During a site visit to assess the project’s progress, Committee Chairman Justin Nyamoga expressed disappointment over the slow execution of the urban roads and stormwater drainage project, valued at TZS 20.864 billion.
The project commenced on November 20, 2023, and was initially scheduled for completion by February 19, 2025.
However, only 48% of the work has been completed, prompting a three-month extension to May 19, 2025.
Nyamoga criticized the contractor’s inefficiency and financial misconduct, stating, “The committee will not dictate what should be done, but you must review the contract and assess the challenges he has created. He has taken materials from Tanzanians without paying them. This is unacceptable.”
Deputy Minister for PO-RALG, Zainab Katimba, speaking on behalf of the Minister of State, Mohamed Mchengerwa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to holding contractors accountable.
She warned, “We will give the contractor three more months to complete the project. If he fails, the contract will be terminated, and he will no longer qualify for any projects in Tanzania.”
Adding to the discussion, Engineer Rogatus Mativila, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Infrastructure at PO-RALG, highlighted a broader issue affecting public projects.
He noted, “One of the biggest challenges in project execution is the diversion of allocated funds to other activities after disbursement, delaying progress significantly.”
The TACTIC project, designed to improve urban infrastructure, is being implemented in 45 municipal councils across Tanzania, including Kahama.
The first phase in Kahama includes the construction of 12.03 km of urban roads, 3.06 km of industrial zone roads in Zongomela, and 4.9 km of stormwater drainage channels in Chelsea-Lyazungu and Shunu Magobeko.