Africa-Press – Tanzania. WORKS and Transport Minister Dr Leonard Chamuriho has tasked new Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) Engineer Rogatus Mativila to ensure projects are implemented within timeframe to avoid costs variance resulting from delays.
The minister noted that the government has been paying billions of money in cost variance, the money that could be used in funding other development projects.
He stated this at a brief ceremony for installing Eng Mativila as the new CEO for the agency after the death of former CEO, Eng Patrick Mfugale.
“Citizens need better social services, projects have to be completed within agreed timeframe since the government uses available resources to execute infrastructure projects,’ he said.
“Tanroads must change and get rid of this habit of delaying payments to contractors, a tendency which compels the government to pay more to contractors due to variation in costs,” he added.
Dr Chamuriho also directed the agency to ensure it effectively supervises both engineers and consultants so that they work as per specifications and carry out projects within the time frame.
According to Controller and Auditor General (CAG)’s 2019 report, the TANROADS owed contractors and consultants over 57bn/- in variation costs.
For his part, Tanroads’ board of directors Chairperson Dr Dalmas Nyaoro advised that the agency should be involved in processes of implementing infrastructure projects at all levels as a way of ensuring efficacy and timely completion.
“Tanroads must participate at all stages of projects from consultancy, construction and others as a way of intensifying supervision and avert wastage of time which causes losses,” Dr Nyaoro urged.
Tanroads is tasked with a duty to supervise construction and maintenance of 36,000 km of roads countrywide and 58 airports scattered in different regions. Also, it also manages and supervises 64 highway weighbridges.
