Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi has criticised the slow pace of road construction in Mbeya, warning that officials responsible for supervising development projects will be held accountable for delays, negligence and misleading progress reports.
During an unannounced return visit to a construction site, Mr Ndejembi found that some roads remained closed despite his directives issued a day earlier to reopen routes affected by the works, leaving residents struggling with transport disruptions.
He directed the Ministry of Works, through the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads), to strengthen supervision of the project and ensure that the contractor meets contractual obligations.
The Vice-President questioned why construction was progressing slowly despite the contractor having received nearly Sh40 billion, saying the pace of work did not match the amount of money paid or the inconvenience residents continued to experience.
“It is unacceptable for a contractor who has received nearly Sh40 billion to continue with construction at a pace that does not reflect the amount paid, while citizens continue to suffer,” he said.
He instructed Works Minister Masanja Kadogosa to ensure that Tanroads closely monitors the project and takes action against officials who provide false information about its progress.
Mr Ndejembi said the government would not tolerate negligence, dishonesty or misuse of public funds, adding that officials who failed to discharge their responsibilities should face appropriate action, including removal from their positions where warranted.
He also called for the immediate reopening of roads that could be made passable to ease transport difficulties facing residents in Mbeya.
From the construction site, the Vice-President travelled to Uyole, where he met residents and listened to their concerns. The main issues raised included shortages of clean water and poor road conditions.
He said the government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was committed to ensuring that public funds were used for their intended purposes and that development projects delivered tangible benefits to citizens.
On the water shortage, Water Minister Jumaa Aweso said Uyole required 12 million litres of water daily, while the current supply stood at eight million litres, leaving a shortfall of four million litres a day.
Mr Aweso said the government would begin drilling boreholes on Monday in wards facing the most severe shortages as work continued on a major water project in Mbeya Region.
He added that the government was also planning a credit arrangement to help residents who could not afford the initial cost of connecting their homes to the water supply network.
The Vice-President is in Mbeya on a working visit, with accountability in the implementation of development projects among his key priorities.
His remarks highlight the government's expectation that contractors and public officials must deliver projects within agreed timelines, ensure that public money produces measurable results and minimise disruptions to citizens' daily lives.
For residents, the immediate concerns remain the reopening of affected roads, improved access to clean water and assurance that public investment will translate into better services rather than prolonged delays and unfulfilled promises.