Professor Makulilo named OUT Vice-Chancellor

By Lake Zone Watch writer

Tanzania yesterday marked a milestone in its transport sector history following the inauguration of the 722-km stretch of the modern standard gauge railway (SGR) from Dar es Salaam to Makutupora in Dodoma.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, accompanied by high-ranking government officials and those from the state-run Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) travelled by the fast-speed train from the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, to the administrative city of Dodoma.

The event marked more than 130 years since the first Usambara metre gauge railway line was built by the German colonialists in the former colony of Tanganyika which was then christened Deustche Ostafrika.

Passing through the central corridor, the multi-billion shillings SGR project is planned to reach the Lake Tanganyika town of Kigoma as well as the city of Mwanza along Lake Victoria.

The country’s master-plan is to extend the project to neighbouring Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Transport Minister Prof Makame Mnyaa Mbarawa.

This ambitious project will open up economic opportunities in various sectors within the country and the land-locked neighbouring states.

Transport experts say in the next 25 years Tanzania will never be the same again as the country will be covered by a network of reliable modern roads and railway.

Inaugurating the SGR scheme in Dodoma, President Samia was cheerful that the project was a landmark in that it has opened doors for the flourishing of economic activities for the benefits of Tanzanians and their neighbours.