A newly completed bridge in southern Tanzania is improving access to markets, healthcare and other essential services for thousands of residents, while easing the transportation of cashew nuts and other agricultural produce from one of the country's key farming regions.
The 21-metre bridge on the Chekereni–Mkonye–Nambela road in Kitele Ward, Mtwara District, was constructed by the Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) under the World Bank-funded Rural Infrastructure for Sustainable Employment (RISE) programme.
Completed in November 2025 after construction began in April 2024, the bridge serves communities in Kitele and Mnima wards, where agriculture remains the main source of income.
Speaking during an inspection tour of RISE projects in Mtwara Region, TARURA District Manager Khatibu Nunu said the bridge had removed a major transport bottleneck that had long disrupted economic activities, particularly during the cashew harvest season.
“This is a predominantly agricultural area where cashew nuts and sesame are among the main cash crops. During the harvest season, large trucks transporting produce from farms and collection centres to cooperative unions faced significant difficulties crossing this section of the road,” Nunu said.
He added that the bridge is also improving access to healthcare by providing a safer and more reliable route to Kitele Health Centre and other medical facilities serving surrounding communities.
For residents, the project marks the end of years of transport disruptions, mostly during the rainy season.
“Water would flow over the bridge whenever the river rose, creating serious risks for road users and disrupting movement between communities,” Jema Mchewa, a resident of Chekereni village, said.
Another resident, Saidi Issa Mpunga, recalled the challenges faced by patients seeking medical treatment when floodwaters cut off access.
“During periods of flooding, people had to carry patients across the river by hand to reach health facilities on the other side. It was a very difficult situation,” he said.
The new structure has significantly improved safety and mobility for schoolchildren, pregnant women and farmers who depend on reliable transport links throughout the year.
“The bridge has changed our lives,” said Esha Mpunga, a resident of the area. “Students can travel safely, pregnant women can reach health facilities, and farmers can transport their produce without fear of being cut off during the rains.”
For Mtwara’s cashew-growing communities, residents say the investment is already delivering tangible benefits by linking farms more efficiently to markets while improving access to essential public services.
