For millions of Tanzanians in both rural and urban areas, better roads now mean better lives. Over the past four years, the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) has turned dusty and impassable routes into reliable connections linking people to schools, hospitals, and markets.
This transformation, driven by the Sixth Phase Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is reshaping how citizens move, trade, and access essential services across the country.
TARURA Chief Executive Officer Engineer Victor Seff said the agency has implemented road infrastructure projects worth more than TZS 302.95 billion during the past four years.
Of that amount, projects valued at TZS 262.46 billion have already been completed, while others worth TZS 40.49 billion are still under implementation.
He said this progress reflects the government’s strong commitment to improving infrastructure and the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
According to Engineer Seff, these achievements were made possible by a significant increase in funding from the government.
TARURA’s annual budget was previously TZS 275 billion, but under the leadership of President Samia, the amount has risen to TZS 1.1 trillion an increase of 230 percent.
The additional funding, he said, has enabled the agency to expand its network and deliver projects that directly benefit communities in every region.
He said several projects have already made a remarkable impact. In Dodoma, tarmac roads stretching through the new Government City at Mtumba have improved accessibility to ministries and surrounding communities.
In Morogoro, the Berega Bridge has opened up new transport routes that ease trade and communication between villages.
In Lindi, the Mbwemkuru Bridge has connected farmers to markets, while in the Coast Region and Dodoma, new tarmac roads have enhanced movement around industrial and residential areas.
These projects, he added, are more than just roads they are pathways to opportunity.
Engineer Seff explained that TARURA is also supervising major projects funded by international partners, including the World Bank and the European Union.
These projects are not only improving infrastructure in cities but also uplifting the rural economy. Through them, local farmers are gaining easier access to markets, and small traders are benefiting from reduced transport costs.
He said that when all ongoing projects are completed by April 2030, thousands of kilometers of new roads, drainage systems, and transport facilities will have been built, creating a network that supports both economic and social growth.
He emphasized that TARURA’s approach is deeply focused on empowering local contractors and communities.
Nearly all contracts for road construction and maintenance, about 99 percent, have been awarded to Tanzanian firms, while part of the budget has been reserved for special groups such as youth, women, and people with disabilities.
He said that through these projects, more than 344 local groups have participated directly in road maintenance works, creating over 173,000 jobs for Tanzanians.
For him, every road built represents not just a development milestone, but a symbol of empowerment for the people who live along it.
Engineer Seff said the changes are already visible in citizens’ daily lives. He cited a joint study conducted with the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), which found that travel time to essential services such as hospitals and markets has been significantly reduced, while transport costs have dropped by more than 70 percent.
Access to transport services has increased dramatically, and post-harvest losses have declined sharply because farmers can now move their produce faster to markets.
He said these improvements show that better roads are directly linked to economic growth and poverty reduction.
He added that the number of rural roads that can be used throughout the year has risen from 24 percent in 2016 to over 60 percent in 2025, meaning that many more communities now enjoy reliable access regardless of the season.
This, he said, is helping reduce isolation in rural areas, strengthen trade, and bring people closer to social services.
Addressing financial challenges faced by local contractors, Engineer Seff said TARURA has worked with CRDB Bank to launch the Samia Infrastructure Bond, an initiative designed to help Tanzanian contractors access affordable loans and performance guarantees.
The response has been overwhelming, with more than TZS 323 billion raised more than double the initial target of TZS 150 billion. Over 270 local contractors have already benefited from the funding, enabling them to take on new projects and expand their businesses.
Engineer Seff said these achievements show that infrastructure development under the current administration is not just about constructing roads, but about transforming lives.
He stressed that when citizens see new bridges and tarmac roads in their communities, they are witnessing progress that touches their everyday lives safer transport for children going to school, faster access to hospitals, and better opportunities for farmers and small business owners.
As TARURA continues to implement its long-term infrastructure plan, the focus remains on connecting people, enhancing mobility, and creating inclusive growth.
For many Tanzanians, the sound of vehicles passing through newly built roads is now a symbol of hope and a clear sign that development is reaching every corner of the nation.