Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE long-awaited major repair work on the MV Liemba, the world’s oldest “operating” passenger ship, has reached 15 percent completion, nearly one year after the project commenced.
Deputy Minister for Transport, David Kihenzile, provided the update in parliament while responding to a question from Special Seats Member of Parliament, Bupe Mwakang’ata (CCM), who inquired about the timeline for resolving transport issues on the Lake Tanganyika.
The government has officially handed over MV Liemba, the oldest “operating” passenger ship in the world to Croatian based firm M/S Brodosplit JSC and Dar es Salaam Merchant Group (DMG) in July 2024 to undergo major repairs at the cost of over 33bn/-.
This renovation aims to overhaul the only surviving active ship of the German Imperial Navy, which has been sailing between Kigoma, Tanzania, and Mpulungu, Zambia, since 1915.
The vessel, capable of carrying 200 tonnes of cargo and 600 passengers, was scheduled to undergo a two-year renovation, from July 2024 to July 2026.
Mr Kihenzile said the government is working to ease transport challenges on Lake Tanganyika by rehabilitating vessels and building a new shipbuilding factory.
Deputy Minister for Transport, David Kihenzile, told the Parliament that the rehabilitation of the MT.
Sangara vessel is complete, and began operations on May 21, 2025. Kihenzile also confirmed that the government signed a contract with Songoro Marine Company for the repair of the MV Mwongozo vessel.
As part of an advance payment for the construction of a new shipbuilding factory, the contractor has received 8,841,225.43 US dollar (about 24bn/-) The deputy minister emphasized that once these projects are finalized, they are expected to significantly reduce water transport challenges on Lake Tanganyika.
This, in turn, will stimulate economic growth for communities living along the lake’s shores.
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