Tanzania to revamp piers, ports in its three giant lakes

Tanzania plans to renovate all piers and ports in Lake Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa in the 2017/18 financial year in order to improve transportation at the water bodies, a senior official said Wednesday.

Edwin Ngonyani, Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication said already the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has prepared a plan of action for the project and it has signed a contract with the Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS) to conduct geographical information system (GIS) maps.

"The aim of the government is to revive some of the piers and ports that were once being used to provide transport but have since been neglected," he said, adding that by so doing, transportation of goods on the mentioned lakes will be made easier.

Ngonyani noted that the mapping for the project will be done by October 2017, before the construction works begin.

The minister revealed that once the mapping has been done on the oceans and great lakes, TPA will, therefore, be in a position to decide whether to build new ports or piers on the oceans and lakes.

He said that the construction of two piers at Lushamba and Ntama in Lake Victoria was completed in August 2016 and what was left was just infrastructure at the entrance after residents who paved the way for construction have been compensated by the end of May this year.

He, however, directed all the district councils, including Busega who will be affected by the project to cooperate with experts implementing the GIS maps as has been planned by TPA.

He said the government will also embark on intensive improvements on Tanga and Mtwara ports as well as refurbishing all ports along the country's lake shorelines to improve their operational efficiency. Endit