Minister for Works Masanja Kadogosa has removed Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) Acting Songwe Regional Manager Engineer Fredrick Mande from his position over delays in the construction of a key road project at the Tunduma One Stop Border Post (OSBP).
Kadogosa directed Mande to return to TANROADS headquarters, citing inadequate supervision of the 1,675-metre customs road project at the Tanzania-Zambia border.
The decision signals the government’s determination to ensure that public funds allocated to infrastructure projects deliver timely and tangible benefits to citizens and businesses.
During an inspection of the project on the night of October 15, 2026, Kadogosa gave the contractor two weeks to complete the outstanding works.
He also announced plans to return to the site within seven days to assess progress and ensure that the contractor was complying with the directives.
The minister said further administrative steps were being taken to appoint a new manager to oversee TANROADS operations in Songwe Region.
The action followed concerns raised by Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi over the slow pace of construction, despite the government having released a substantial portion of the project funds.
The project is expected to improve traffic flow at the Tunduma border, reduce congestion, speed up customs clearance and facilitate the movement of goods between Tanzania and Zambia.
Once completed, the road is expected to improve the efficiency of cross-border trade, benefiting transporters, traders, travellers and businesses that depend on the busy border crossing.
However, the slow progress has raised concerns because the project is contractually scheduled for completion by October 31, 2026.
Kadogosa also directed all TANROADS regional managers nationwide to strengthen supervision of construction projects and ensure transparency and accountability at every stage.
He emphasised that project supervisors, contractors and government representatives must perform their respective duties independently to protect public resources and ensure that construction meets the required standards.
The minister warned against project supervisors favouring the interests of particular parties, saying such practices could weaken oversight and compromise accountability in government-funded projects.
During an earlier visit, Vice-President Ndejembi stressed that infrastructure funding provided by the government must translate into improved services and better living conditions for citizens.
He said officials and contractors had a responsibility to ensure that projects were completed on schedule and delivered the intended benefits.
“President Samia Suluhu Hassan provides funds so that citizens can benefit. We must therefore supervise the work properly to ensure that the money delivers value and benefits to the people,” Ndejembi said.
Information presented during the vice-president’s visit showed that the contractor had received TZS 4.4 billion out of the total contract sum of TZS 6.8 billion, equivalent to more than 60 per cent of the contract value.
However, the progress of construction had not matched the payments made, prompting concerns about project supervision and the pace of implementation.
The government’s intervention is intended to accelerate the remaining work and strengthen accountability in the use of public funds.
For citizens and businesses using the Tunduma border, timely completion of the project is important in reducing delays, improving the movement of goods and supporting trade between Tanzania and Zambia.
With the October 31 contractual deadline approaching, attention will now focus on whether the contractor can complete the outstanding works within the timeframe set by the minister.