Korogwe, Tanga. Engaging community groups in minor road maintenance has been identified as a practical solution to reduce government expenditure and enhance the durability of roads across the country.
Engineer Ephrahim Kalunde of the RISE-TARURA project made the remarks during a training session for 30 community groups in Korogwe District, Tanga Region, who are actively involved in road maintenance activities.
He explained that the training is provided under the Rural Infrastructure Improvement and Social and Economic Opportunities (RISE) project, which, among other initiatives, encourages citizens to participate in small-scale road repairs whenever damage occurs.
“Utilising local groups for road maintenance within their areas will help the government lower costs as repairs will be conducted promptly. It will also reduce expenses associated with hiring contractors, as these activities can be undertaken by residents already present in the locality, ensuring roads remain passable at all times,” Engineer Kalunde said.
He outlined some of the tasks to be undertaken by these groups, including grass cutting, cleaning road drains, and constructing small-scale infrastructure that does not require heavy construction materials.
According to Engineer Kalunde, the project aims to reach 25 regions on the mainland, with the first phase currently covering four regions and eight district councils.
Meanwhile, Mr Owigo Phinias, Social Welfare Officer at TARURA, noted that the training will equip community groups with technical skills, which will not only improve road maintenance but also provide opportunities for economic empowerment through local repair work.
