22 August 2009

Lindi — President Jakaya Kikwete has cautioned residents of southern regions of Lindi and Mtwara from selling land to foreigners.

Speaking at Mkwajuni village in Lindi Region shortly before inaugurating the Mbwemkuru-Mingoyo road on Wednesday, President Kikwete said after the completion of the southern road, many investors would flock to the two regions.

He noted that though it was true that the 95km road was opening economic opportunities, that should not include locals selling their land to foreigners.

"There are other places in this country where locals have sold all their land and they are now living like servants and agents of activities done by other people whom they sold the land," said President Kikwete.

He said completion of the Dar es Salaam-Kibiti-Lindi-Mingoyo road was a milestone and open a new era for Lindi and Mtwara regions residents who used to spend more time when travelling to and from Dar es Salaam.

"We are now done with the tale that people living in southern parts of the country were still Tanganyikas and those living in the southern part were real Tanzanians, that is now history," he said.

The completion of the road was also historical in a sense that its construction has been fully funded by the Government through tax payers money.

The construction of the road which was completed late last year, consumed a total of Sh113.7 billion. The money includes Sh2 billion which was used to pay compensation to people whose structures were removed to pave the way for the road.

Since the Government started using local funds to build roads in the country, 500 kilometres of roads have been constructed including bridges across Ruvu and Mpiji rivers in Coast Region.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of Infrastructure Development, Mr Omar Chambo, said during the celebrations that three other road construction projects funded by the Government were still going on.

He listed the projects as the construction of 50km Geita-Sengerema road, Sengerema-Usagara (40km) in Mwanza Region and Unit Bridge which connects Tanzania and Mozambique. The later project is being implemented in Ruvuma Region.

allafrica