By Charles Mkoka
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Tanzania's efforts to promote locally developed infrastructure technologies were on display at the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (Sabasaba), where officials from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) highlighted the potential of cold asphalt technology to transform road maintenance across the country.
The technology attracted the attention of University of Dar es Salaam Vice Chancellor Prof. William Anangisye, who, together with TARURA Head of Public Relations and Communications Catherine Sungura, received a briefing on the innovation at the university's exhibition pavilion.
Cold asphalt, known in Swahili as lami baridi, is designed to provide a practical and cost-effective alternative for road maintenance, particularly in areas where conventional hot-mix asphalt can be expensive or difficult to deploy.
Researchers say the technology can be applied without the high temperatures required by traditional asphalt production, potentially reducing construction costs, lowering energy consumption and enabling quicker repairs on damaged roads.
The innovation forms part of broader efforts by Tanzanian researchers and infrastructure agencies to develop locally driven solutions capable of addressing growing demand for durable and affordable transport infrastructure. Recent demonstrations by UDSM researchers have positioned the technology as a potential tool for improving road maintenance across Tanzania and other African countries.
TARURA, which oversees the development and maintenance of rural and urban roads across mainland Tanzania, has increasingly embraced innovation as it seeks to improve connectivity, support economic activity and enhance access to social services.
Officials said the exhibition provided an opportunity to showcase how collaboration between academia and government institutions can accelerate the adoption of new technologies and strengthen the country's infrastructure sector.
The display also underscored the growing role of research and innovation in supporting Tanzania's development agenda, with universities and public agencies working together to identify solutions that can improve efficiency, reduce costs and deliver long-term benefits to communities.
As Tanzania continues to invest heavily in transport infrastructure, stakeholders say locally developed technologies such as cold asphalt could play an increasingly important role in extending the lifespan of roads while making maintenance more affordable and environmentally sustainable.
