Community groups involved in routine road maintenance in Itilima District have been urged to take a leading role in protecting roads from damage and ensuring the infrastructure continues to serve residents and support local economic activities.
The call was made by Itilima District Commissioner Anna Gidarya during training for 16 community groups participating in the Community-Based Routine Maintenance (CBRM) programme implemented by the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA).
The training aimed to strengthen the groups’ capacity to effectively carry out minor road maintenance works while promoting greater community ownership of road infrastructure.
Ms Gidarya said roads were public assets whose condition directly affected the movement of people and goods, access to social services and the growth of local businesses.
She urged the groups to work closely with residents to identify and prevent activities that could damage roads, stressing that maintaining infrastructure should not be left solely to government agencies.
“Roads are public assets and their protection is a shared responsibility. Community members should play an active role in ensuring that the infrastructure remains in good condition,” she said.
Ms Gidarya also commended the groups for participating directly in road maintenance, saying the approach was helping residents contribute to development while creating opportunities for communities to take greater ownership of infrastructure in their areas.
She, however, challenged the groups to maintain unity, discipline and cooperation, warning that internal conflicts could undermine their ability to effectively deliver on their responsibilities.
The CBRM approach enables communities to participate in routine maintenance of local roads, helping address minor road defects before they develop into more costly infrastructure problems.
Participants thanked TARURA for equipping them with skills needed to undertake routine maintenance and pledged to apply the knowledge gained to improve road conditions and promote public awareness on infrastructure protection.
They also pledged to strengthen cooperation within their groups and ensure that the opportunities created through the programme contribute to the economic wellbeing of members and the development of their communities.
