Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega has ordered the contractor building the Mbulu–Hydom road to mobilise all construction equipment to the project site within 14 days after discrepancies emerged between the contractor's progress report and official records.
The minister issued the directive during an inspection of the 25-kilometre Labay–Hydom section, which is being upgraded to bitumen standard by China's Jiangxi Geo Engineering Company under a design-and-build contract.
During the inspection, the contractor told the minister that nearly half of the required construction equipment had already been deployed to the site.
However, Mr Ulega challenged the claim, citing official project records showing that only 33 percent of the required equipment had been mobilised.
"I have reviewed the documents, and they show that only 33 percent of the required equipment is on site. I expect all the equipment stipulated in the contract to be here within the next two weeks. That is a contractual obligation, and it must be fulfilled," Mr Ulega said.
He said timely mobilisation of machinery and other construction resources is critical to maintaining the project's implementation schedule and ensuring the road is completed on time, allowing communities and businesses to benefit from improved transport infrastructure without delays.
The minister described the Mbulu–Hydom road as a strategic investment that will strengthen regional connectivity by linking Arusha, Manyara, Simiyu, Singida and Shinyanga regions, improving the movement of people, agricultural produce and commercial goods.
Mr Ulega also warned project engineers, consultants and government supervisors against compromising construction standards, saying quality would remain the ministry's foremost priority.
"There is no justification for a newly completed road developing potholes within a year because it was built below the required standard. Quality is non-negotiable, and I will not hesitate to take action against anyone who fails to enforce the required specifications," he said.
He urged all officials involved in supervising road projects to intensify quality inspections at every stage of construction, saying strict adherence to engineering standards is essential to protecting public investment and ensuring road infrastructure delivers long-term value.
The Labay–Hydom section forms part of the wider Mbulu–Hydom road project, which is expected to improve accessibility and support economic activities across northern and central Tanzania once completed.
