RESIDENTS of Mwanza and surrounding regions have all reasons to smile following the launch of a new ferry namely MV Mwanza to ply between Kigongo and Busisi.
The Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Eng. Isack Kamwelwe, received the boat from Songoro Marine Transport, who was main contractor.
Dr Kamwelwe said the government would continue to work hard to address transport challenges in the country’s water bodies, noting that plans were also afoot to assemble eight boats in 18 ports along Lake Victoria.
“We also plan to procure a new ship which will be bigger than MV Bukoba, with a capacity for over 1,200 passengers,” Eng Kamwelwe remarked.
The minister also revealed plans for procuring a ship for Lake Tanganyika as well as maintenance of five ships MV Sengerema, MV Victoria, MV Serengeti, MV Liemba and MV Umoja. He went further to assure the residents that the government would construct a tarmac road from Geita to Nyehunge through Sengerema District to ease transport woes.
In another development, the minister directed the Managing Director of Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA), Dr Mussa Mgwatu, to ensure regular maintenance of government vehicles.
On his part, Dr Mgwatu thanked the ministry for the support it had been rendering to the agency to address transport challenges, particularly in water bodies.
Speaking of the newly launched ferry, the TEMESA boss said the boat which was manufactured at a cost of 8.9bn/- would have a capacity to carry 820 passengers and 250 tonnes of cargo, noting that the agency had so far manufactured 30 boats.
He was equally positive that the new boat would address transport challenges along the Kigongo-Busisi route on Lake Victoria.
Speaking at the occasion, the Geita Regional Commissioner, Eng Robert Gabriel, requested the minister to consider construction of a tarmac road from Geita to Shinyanga.
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