Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has challenged African countries to fix transport bottlenecks that make it more difficult and expensive to move goods across the continent, warning that poor connectivity is undermining regional trade and denying businesses easier access to markets.
He said Africa could not fully benefit from its economic potential while goods travelling between neighbouring countries sometimes took longer to arrive than shipments from other continents.
Dr Mwigulu said investment in transport infrastructure linking African countries directly, alongside better integration of maritime, road and rail services, was critical to reducing delays and making cross-border trade more practical.
“Africa is one, and the easiest and most natural way to connect it without being held hostage by borders is to build infrastructure that makes it easier for people to carry out their economic activities,” he said.
The Prime Minister was speaking on Thursday, October 15, 2026, when opening the 10th Council of Ministers meeting of the Maritime Organisation for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (MOESNA) at Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
He said the absence of efficient transport connections was creating unnecessary delays in the movement of goods within Africa, weakening the continent’s ability to trade competitively.
“This situation, where cargo from another continent arrives in Africa faster than goods originating within the continent, will only end if we build this kind of infrastructure,” he said.
Dr Mwigulu cited the example of milk transported from Uganda to West Africa, saying the consignment had reportedly taken two and a half to nearly three months to reach its destination.
He said such delays illustrated the challenges facing businesses that depend on regional markets, particularly those dealing in products whose quality and commercial value can be affected by lengthy transportation.
The Prime Minister argued that improving connectivity would require countries to look beyond individual transport projects and establish systems that allow different modes of transport to work together.
He said maritime transport should be connected efficiently with road and rail networks to ensure that goods arriving at ports could reach inland markets without unnecessary delays.
“Sometimes, travelling to one African country requires going through Europe before returning to a neighbouring country. That cannot help African people reach their markets,” he said.
The remarks put the spotlight on a longstanding challenge facing African trade: geographical proximity does not necessarily translate into efficient transport, as weak connections between transport networks can make regional shipments costly and time-consuming.
For traders and producers, better links between ports, roads and railways could widen access to customers across borders, while reducing the time goods spend in transit.
Earlier, Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa said Tanzania viewed its participation in MOESNA’s leadership as an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation in maritime transport.
He said the government wanted to see the sector contribute more directly to trade, investment, employment and economic growth across member states.
“We believe that the development of this sector is an important foundation for expanding trade, attracting investment, creating jobs and strengthening the economies of our countries,” Prof Mbarawa said.
He said Tanzania would prioritise strengthening maritime transport, increasing African participation in ship ownership and operations, developing professional expertise and promoting the blue economy.
Prof Mbarawa added that the country wanted MOESNA to deliver measurable economic benefits rather than remain a forum for meetings and resolutions.
“We want to see MOESNA become an institution that delivers tangible economic results,” he said.
The meeting brings together member states to discuss cooperation in maritime transport, a sector considered important to regional connectivity, international commerce and the development of Africa’s blue economy.
For Tanzania, stronger maritime links and better connections between ports and inland transport networks could help improve the movement of goods through the country and strengthen its role in regional trade.