Mwanza. The construction of the 14-kilometre Buhongwa–Igoma road to tarmac level in Mwanza City is expected to provide a lasting solution to the long-standing challenge of traffic congestion in the lakeside city.
The project, being implemented under the Tanzania Cities Transforming Infrastructure and Competitiveness (TACTIC) programme, connects the wards of Buhongwa, Lwanhima, Kishiri and Igoma.
Previously, motorists travelling between Buhongwa and Igoma were compelled to pass through the city centre, exacerbating traffic jams.
According to Mwanza City Director, Advocate Kiomoni Kibamba, the new road will ease congestion significantly by offering motorists a direct alternative route.
“Vehicles from either side will no longer be forced to enter the city centre. Instead, they will be able to proceed directly to their destinations,” he explained.
In addition to the road, TACTIC is funding the construction of a fresh fish market in Mkuyuni Ward. Mr Kibamba said the market would solve a long-standing challenge of inadequate space for fish trade in the city.
He noted that fishing boats from Ukerewe District and Buchosa in Sengerema District would now have a reliable marketplace, a development expected to boost Mwanza’s economy and strengthen trade ties with other regions.
“These projects have not only improved the city’s outlook but also increased land values, while making it easier to transport people and goods within Mwanza,” he said.
Residents have also welcomed the developments. Mr Kalumanzila Idd from Buhongwa expressed gratitude to the government for constructing the road, saying it had relieved them of the transport difficulties they had faced for many years.
Similarly, Ms Judith S. Maningo of Ihushi, Kishiri Ward, said the Buhongwa–Igoma road had brought great relief to local communities. “Among the many development projects brought by President Samia, this road is a real liberation for residents of Ihushi and Kishiri as a whole,” she observed.
