Community groups will take on a greater role in maintaining Tanzania's road network under a programme being expanded by the Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), an initiative aimed at improving year-round road accessibility while creating jobs and strengthening local ownership of infrastructure.
The Community-Based Routine Maintenance (CBRM) programme is expected to address long-standing challenges in routine road maintenance by engaging residents living near roads managed by TARURA to carry out regular maintenance works.
Speaking at the opening of a training session for TARURA's management team, regional managers and procurement officers in Mwanza, the agency's Head of Environmental and Social Management, Dr Haledeus Makene, said the programme would help ensure communities become active custodians of public infrastructure.
Representing TARURA's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Makene said involving local residents in road maintenance would improve the condition of roads while encouraging communities to safeguard the infrastructure that supports their daily lives and local economies.
"We want communities to take ownership of the roads in their areas. The groups will be formed from local residents who will undertake routine maintenance on a regular basis. Besides protecting the infrastructure, the programme will also create employment opportunities and improve household incomes," he said.
He noted that regular maintenance carried out by community groups would help keep more roads passable throughout the year, particularly during the rainy season when poor drainage often causes road damage.
The programme's national coordinator, Engineer Richard Missa, said the three-year initiative is being implemented in 70 local government authorities across 25 regions, targeting approximately 15,000 kilometres of roads under TARURA's jurisdiction.
He said the programme has already covered about 7,000 kilometres, marking significant progress towards its target.
According to Eng Missa, participating groups will carry out routine activities such as clearing vegetation, cleaning and opening roadside drains, and removing blockages from culverts to prevent flooding and minimise damage to road infrastructure.
He said preventive maintenance is essential to ensuring roads remain accessible throughout the year while reducing the cost of major rehabilitation works.
The programme is also expected to generate income for participating community members by creating paid maintenance opportunities at the local level.
The International Labour Organization (ILO), which is supporting the initiative, said the partnership with TARURA is helping build institutional capacity and promote a more sustainable approach to maintaining the country's road network.
ILO National Programme Coordinator, Mr Dampu Ndenzako, commended the government and TARURA for implementing the programme, saying it would improve year-round road access while providing economic opportunities for members of participating community groups.
The initiative reflects a growing shift towards community-driven infrastructure management, with local residents expected to play a central role in preserving roads that are critical for transport, trade and access to essential services.
