AfricaPress-Tanzania: CHAMA Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Tabora Region has asked the government to give priority to local contractors in construction projects when it is announced, to strengthen capital and capacity and strengthen the economy of the area.
CCM Tabora Regional Chairman, Hassan Wakasuvi made the request yesterday when he led members of the Regional Political Committee to inspect the construction of the 28 km Urambo to Kaliua road, built by Samota Company.
He said local contractors who show competence and loyalty in the implementation of projects including road construction, should be given priority as a way to strengthen them more, grow and be able to apply for jobs abroad.
Wakasuvi said the move would help reduce the cost of the project to the Government, as the local contractor would not have the high cost of cleaning equipment from a distance.
“We urge you to give priority to the indigenous people so that we can have many benefits including strengthening them financially, skills and also even the money they earn will remain here in the country and provide more jobs for our local professionals” he stressed.
He called on CCM leaders from the Shina to Regional level and all citizens to be the guardians of the infrastructure, which is being built to expose the theft of road signs.
He said the removal of the marks had been a setback for the government’s efforts.
The Director of Samota Company, Salumu Abdallah thanked the Fifth Phase Government for trusting the locals and providing them with major road construction projects including those who are building the road from Urambo to Kaliua at a cost of Sh 38.7 billion.
He said the move has helped build their capacity and acquire skills from the Supervisor where they are now able to do other major road construction work due to the training they receive.
Abdallah said it is good that when the government has projects it has put in place mechanisms to allocate projects that locals have to build as they are not able to compete in tenders with foreign companies due to their capital being small compared to foreigners.
Tabora Regional Manager of the Roads Agency (Tanroads), Damian Ndabalinze said that the road from Urambo to Kaliua, has been completed to a large extent and the rest are small works that are expected to be completed by the end of this month.
The remaining activities are stormwater drainage, placement of crossings, placement of stones indicating distance and drawing road safety drawings.
