Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Prof Riziki Shemdoe, has expressed frustration over the slow pace of major infrastructure projects in Lindi, with works standing at just 23 percent despite only five months remaining before the contractual deadline.
The projects being implemented by KIKIM Contractors Limited in partnership with AMACO Enterprises include 5.3 kilometres of roads, Mitwero Bus Terminal and Matopeni Main Market, as well as a project office.
The projects are being implemented under the Tanzania Cities Transforming Infrastructure and Competitiveness (TACTIC) programme, which is intended to improve urban infrastructure and services.
Prof Shemdoe expressed his dissatisfaction on September 15, 2026, after inspecting the Mitwero Bus Terminal and Matopeni Main Market, where he found progress significantly behind schedule.
With the projects expected to be completed within five months, Prof Shemdoe directed Lindi Regional Commissioner Adam Kighoma Malima to enforce the contractors’ obligations under their agreements and ensure measures are taken to accelerate the works.
“These contractors have contracts. The matter should therefore be handled according to the terms of the contracts,” Prof Shemdoe said.
He ordered the regional commissioner to meet the contractors and demand a detailed recovery plan outlining how they would complete the delayed projects within the remaining period.
The plan must be submitted to Prof Shemdoe by September 23, 2026, while progress reports should be submitted every two weeks to allow the government to monitor implementation.
The minister questioned the performance of the contractors, noting that delays in public projects deny residents timely access to infrastructure and services.
The consultant’s resident engineer, Rashidi Abdallah of Interconsult Ltd, attributed the slow progress to poor preparations by the contractor, inadequate human resources and the improper use of advance payments intended for project implementation.
Mr Abdallah said the challenges had affected the contractor’s ability to mobilise sufficient resources and maintain the required pace of construction.
One of the directors of the contracted companies, John Daniel, acknowledged that negligence had contributed to the delays.
He said the contractors had addressed some of the challenges and were now prepared to work day and night to accelerate construction and recover lost time.
“We have recognised the challenges and are ready to work day and night to ensure the projects are completed,” Mr Daniel said.
He asked to meet Mr Malima to present the contractors’ recovery plan and requested that the regional administration set short-term targets against which their performance could be measured.
Mr Malima said he would meet the contractors to assess their plan and establish whether they had the capacity to complete the projects within the remaining five months.
He also told the contractors to be prepared to subcontract part of the works to another contractor if they determined that they could not complete the projects on time.
The move is aimed at preventing further delays and ensuring that residents benefit from the planned roads, bus terminal and market within the agreed timeframe.
During his September 15 visit to Lindi Region, Prof Shemdoe also inspected construction of Ng’uni Bridge in Nanganga Ward, a new primary school at the Kitandi Secondary School area and Chiola Health Centre in Nachingwea.
He also held a public meeting at Mtuha Village in Nachingwea District.