[h=2]425bn/- roads project debt still unpaid[/h]
By The guardian reporter
2nd November 2011
Watchdog committee says work has stalled or slowed
Committee chairman Peter Serukamba
Failure by government to honour contractors debts, now standing at 425bn/-, has either stalled or slowed down several road projects, the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure was told yesterday.
Briefing the press in Dar es Salaam yesterday committee chairman Peter Serukamba expressed disappointment at the governments undoing, which he said is contrary to the promissory note it made during the approval of the budget for the 2011/2012 financial year in Parliament.
The committee has resolved to seek audience with both Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and Finance minister Mustapha Mkulo for alternative funding source. What is required at the moment is a rearrangement to pay the contractors their dues, Serukamba said.
The Parliamentary Committee met Tanroads top management in the city recently where it was briefed on the implementation of approved road projects since the 2010/11 financial year, he said.
According to him the suspension of the projects has far reaching consequences because the government is obliged to pay the contractors interest charges at 80m/- per day (equivalent to 2.5bn/- per month).
A more serious consequence is that people will not be able to use the unfinished roads which are being built for the purpose of catalysing their development, he said.
If the government releases at least half of its budget allocation to the ministry of Works, the problem would be solved once and for all, he said.
Serukamba named the projects that the contractors have suspended as Sumbawanga- Kanazi, Kanazi-Kizi-Kibaoni, Lwanjilo-Chunya, Jet corner-Vituka-Davis Corner and Bariadi-Lamadi.
Others include Kagoma-Lusahunga, Tabora-Ndono, Ndono-Urambo and Ushirombo Lusahunga.
The contractor of Arusha-Namanga project suspended work but has now resumed, including those building Magole-Turiani and Ndungu-Somanga roads.
He pointed out that other projects whose work has slowed down are Marangu-Rombo Mkuu, Sumbawanga-Kasangaport, Magole Turiani, Korogwe-Handeni, Kagoma-Lusahunga and Isaka Rombo.
Others are Singida-Katesh, Kitumbi-Segera-Tanga, Bagamoyo-Msata, Mkata-Handeni, Nzega-Puge,Tabora-Nyahua and Mwanza/Mara border-Musoma.
In September this year the Vice President, Dr Ghalib Bilal, said the government would pay all the debts owed by contractors and engineers who have accomplished various construction projects.
He made the pledge in Dar es Salaam when closing a three-day conference jointly organised by Contractors Registration Board, Engineers Registration Board and Architects and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board which drew over 2000 participants.
In his speech read on his behalf by Works minister John Magufuli, the VP had said the government is aware that some engineers and contractors owed it a substantial amount of money for the projects they had accomplished.
The ministry is making a close follow up on this matter and I assure you that part of your dues will be paid soon, Dr Bilal had said.
Meanwhile, the Committee has said it will call on respective stakeholders to review the law that requires that structures built on road reserves be demolished so that the planned exercise is carried out in a sober manner.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Ukisoma habari hii na kuilewa utagundua hali ya nchi yetu kifedha ni mbaya kiasi gani
By The guardian reporter
2nd November 2011
Watchdog committee says work has stalled or slowed
Committee chairman Peter Serukamba
Failure by government to honour contractors debts, now standing at 425bn/-, has either stalled or slowed down several road projects, the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure was told yesterday.
Briefing the press in Dar es Salaam yesterday committee chairman Peter Serukamba expressed disappointment at the governments undoing, which he said is contrary to the promissory note it made during the approval of the budget for the 2011/2012 financial year in Parliament.
The committee has resolved to seek audience with both Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and Finance minister Mustapha Mkulo for alternative funding source. What is required at the moment is a rearrangement to pay the contractors their dues, Serukamba said.
The Parliamentary Committee met Tanroads top management in the city recently where it was briefed on the implementation of approved road projects since the 2010/11 financial year, he said.
According to him the suspension of the projects has far reaching consequences because the government is obliged to pay the contractors interest charges at 80m/- per day (equivalent to 2.5bn/- per month).
A more serious consequence is that people will not be able to use the unfinished roads which are being built for the purpose of catalysing their development, he said.
If the government releases at least half of its budget allocation to the ministry of Works, the problem would be solved once and for all, he said.
Serukamba named the projects that the contractors have suspended as Sumbawanga- Kanazi, Kanazi-Kizi-Kibaoni, Lwanjilo-Chunya, Jet corner-Vituka-Davis Corner and Bariadi-Lamadi.
Others include Kagoma-Lusahunga, Tabora-Ndono, Ndono-Urambo and Ushirombo Lusahunga.
The contractor of Arusha-Namanga project suspended work but has now resumed, including those building Magole-Turiani and Ndungu-Somanga roads.
He pointed out that other projects whose work has slowed down are Marangu-Rombo Mkuu, Sumbawanga-Kasangaport, Magole Turiani, Korogwe-Handeni, Kagoma-Lusahunga and Isaka Rombo.
Others are Singida-Katesh, Kitumbi-Segera-Tanga, Bagamoyo-Msata, Mkata-Handeni, Nzega-Puge,Tabora-Nyahua and Mwanza/Mara border-Musoma.
In September this year the Vice President, Dr Ghalib Bilal, said the government would pay all the debts owed by contractors and engineers who have accomplished various construction projects.
He made the pledge in Dar es Salaam when closing a three-day conference jointly organised by Contractors Registration Board, Engineers Registration Board and Architects and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board which drew over 2000 participants.
In his speech read on his behalf by Works minister John Magufuli, the VP had said the government is aware that some engineers and contractors owed it a substantial amount of money for the projects they had accomplished.
The ministry is making a close follow up on this matter and I assure you that part of your dues will be paid soon, Dr Bilal had said.
Meanwhile, the Committee has said it will call on respective stakeholders to review the law that requires that structures built on road reserves be demolished so that the planned exercise is carried out in a sober manner.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Ukisoma habari hii na kuilewa utagundua hali ya nchi yetu kifedha ni mbaya kiasi gani
