President Samia launches East Africa’s mega bridge

By Lake Zone Watch writer

President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday officially opened East Africa’s mega “bridge of dreams” in Lake Victoria which will become a powerful new engine for regional integration and economic growth.

Christened JP Magufuli, in honour of the late fifth Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli, the three-kilometre worth more than 700bn/- bridge will become a vital link in boosting the economies of Tanzania’s neighbours such as Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.

The bridge is one of the country’s strategic projects to bolster the Tanzanian economy as it strives to attain the status of a middle income nation.

Two foreign firms were contracted to build this bridge – China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway 15th Bureau Group Co.Ltd. (CR15G).

At an inauguration ceremony attended by diplomats from Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and China, President Samia said she was happy that the huge project has been accomplished successfully as a realization of her predecessor’s dream.

Connecting Tanzania and her land-locked neighbours, the JP Magufuli Bridge will have a huge economic impact to the Lake Zone regions of Mwanza, Mara, Simiyu, Geita, Kagera and Shinyanga which are expected to witness increased economic activities.

Similarly, the project is expected to ease transport problems hitherto experienced by travellers crossing Lake Victoria using antiquated ferries.

President Samia urged Tanzanians, and particularly people living near the bridge and defence and security agencies, to be vigilant against acts of sabotage.