Joseph Isangura
Efforts to enhance development in Dodoma Region have been marred by unfinished projects and poor citizen engagement, raising concerns among residents. These issues were highlighted by Dodoma Regional Commissioner Rosemary Senyamule during a meeting with infrastructure sector officials, members of parliament, and municipal council executives.
The gathering, held as the first Regional Road Board meeting for the 2024/2025 financial year, aimed to address infrastructure challenges and assess progress in the region.
Commissioner Senyamule emphasized the importance of completing existing projects before launching new initiatives. She noted that the trend of abandoning unfinished projects was hindering development and causing frustration among citizens.
“Starting new projects without completing previous ones creates unnecessary delays and undermines public trust. We must prioritize finishing what we’ve started,” she stated, urging collaboration among key stakeholders, including TARURA, TANROADS, RUWASA, TANESCO, and DUWASA.
Senyamule called on the Rural and Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) to work closely with local government authorities to educate communities about projects involving public participation. She stressed that better awareness would foster understanding and cooperation, ensuring the success of development initiatives.
“Engaging citizens and building their understanding of projects in their areas is crucial for their success,” Senyamule added, highlighting the need for transparent communication between project implementers and local communities.
Addressing the issue of infrastructure vandalism, Senyamule proposed that individuals involved in such activities should face charges of economic sabotage. She underscored the significant financial and operational burdens these acts impose on both the government and citizens.
“Vandalism of infrastructure not only disrupts services but also results in huge costs. We must take decisive action to deter such behavior by prosecuting offenders under strict economic sabotage laws,” she asserted.
The meeting underscored the need for coordinated efforts across sectors to streamline infrastructure development.
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Participants discussed strategies to overcome challenges, including resource allocation, project monitoring, and enhancing accountability.
The regional administration vowed to address obstacles impeding development, stressing the importance of accountability and timely execution of projects to meet the region’s growth objectives.
Dodoma, a fast-growing region and Tanzania’s political capital, requires robust infrastructure to sustain its development. Leaders and stakeholders have been urged to work collectively to address delays, improve project management, and involve citizens actively in decision-making processes.
Through focused collaboration and decisive action, the region aims to overcome these challenges and achieve its development goals for the 2024/2025 financial year and beyond.
