Joseph Isangura
The Tanzanian government has renewed its commitment to tackling chronic traffic congestion in Dar es Salaam, with two major flyovers at the Morocco and Mwenge junctions moving closer to construction.
Financing arrangements are expected to be finalized by July 2025, officials confirmed this week.
The update was delivered by Abdallah Ulega, Tanzania’s Minister for Works, during an inspection tour of infrastructure projects in Dodoma, the country’s administrative capital, on May 21, 2025.
“These flyovers are vital to solving the traffic problems that continue to disrupt mobility at key intersections,” Ulega said. “We are finalizing technical processes, and once the contractor is selected, we’ll immediately begin implementation.”
Both projects are part of the ruling party’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) 2020–2025 Election Manifesto, which prioritizes strategic infrastructure investment to stimulate economic growth and improve daily life for citizens.
The government has secured a concessional loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to finance the flyovers. JICA has previously supported a number of major projects in Tanzania, including roads, bridges, and energy infrastructure.
According to engineers from the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), design work for the flyovers is nearly complete. The Ministry of Finance is now coordinating with JICA to finalize the loan agreement and move to the construction phase.
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Dar es Salaam, home to over 6 million people and serving as Tanzania’s economic capital, has long struggled with urban congestion caused by rapid urbanization, limited public transport options, and high car dependency. The government hopes these new flyovers will ease bottlenecks at the city’s most traffic-heavy zones.
In parallel, Minister Ulega also announced that test flights are expected to begin before the end of June at the newly built Msalato International Airport, located just outside Dodoma. This strategic aviation project is being funded through a $329 million agreement signed with the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 2020.
“This airport is not just about flights — it’s a gateway for economic transformation in central Tanzania,” said Ulega. “We’re determined to keep every contractor accountable and ensure no project falls behind schedule.”
The Minister also emphasized the urgency of delivering results in other key national projects, including the expansion of the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which has faced repeated delays since its launch in 2016. Contractors who fail to meet agreed timelines, he said, will be penalized.
The Tanzanian government’s focus on transport infrastructure is part of a broader development strategy aligned with Tanzania’s Vision 2025, which aims to transform the country into a middle-income economy through modernization, regional integration, and sustainable development.
